<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/these-uk-schools-offer-a-lesson-in-welcoming-refugee-students/>
"When Ukrainian refugees arrived in England earlier this year following
Russia’s invasion and children started joining schools, primary teacher Anne
Flude was shocked by the fanfare surrounding some of the newly enrolled pupils.
“I remember watching on the news — there was a school where they literally
lined up outside with banners and were cheering on this Ukrainian refugee
child. I thought ‘Oh my god, what are you doing?’ It looked overwhelming.”
In stark contrast, Flude says there was no “hoo-ha” at her school — Bourne
Primary in Eastbourne, Sussex, on the south coast — when a Ukrainian child
enrolled in April.
The pupil (whose gender has been withheld at the request of the school) was
welcomed subtly and sensitively, and joined a class that included a recent
Afghan refugee and several other new arrivals to the United Kingdom, she
explains.
“We took a nurtured, child-centered approach,” she says. “The welcome was very
quiet. It’s not a secret they’re a refugee from Ukraine, but it’s not like we
were labeling them as this or that, you know? They’re just a child.”
Bourne Primary’s attitude is perhaps unsurprising given its ethnic diversity —
more than 34 languages are spoken among its pupils — and the fact it has
recently been designated a School of Sanctuary.
More than 360 schools in the UK have earned the recognition (or award, as it’s
known) by demonstrating they can provide a welcoming and inclusive learning
environment for those seeking refuge in the United Kingdom, teach pupils about
migrants and refugees, and engage with the local community.
The City of Sanctuary charity started the Schools of Sanctuary program in 2010,
and education experts say today the initiative is a rare source of reliable
information and continuous guidance at a time when more people are seeking
asylum in the UK and government oversight and support for schools is in short
supply."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
