Refugee Support Plan by Dr Tina Rae скачать в хорошем качестве

Refugee Support Plan by Dr Tina Rae

I hope this helps all who are seeking to help our Ukrainian children to transition to our school communities. Refugee children may well be experiencing fear, terror, and helplessness as they transition into our schools and communities Empathy is key as is the need to become a school of sanctuary where they feel safe and included Flexibility is crucial as all refugee children are different - some will want and need to talk straight away, others will not, and may need time to process their experiences or do so in more creative ways through play, art, and creative outlets Understanding the symptoms of trauma and what to look for is also key - avoidance, re-enactment, withdrawal, or aggression Get down to their level, hear the voice of the child - ‘this is what I do want’ ‘This is what I don’t want or need right now’ – not every child needs a bespoke therapeutic intervention so keep using your watchful waiting skills Express a genuine welcome as their new nurturer – ‘we want you here in our school community, we value you and will make sure that you are safe and loved’ Engage with parents and carers in the community remembering that practical help and advice is often a helpful starting point Setup welcoming signs and systems such as labelling/visual timetables etc in their own language and involve parents and carers to translate Understand that they need respite from anxiety- a face may light up if you ask about their favourite football team rather than their journey to the UK Provide an accessible curriculum and climate of welcome which uses the skills and empathy of their peer group Promote Play, socialisation and physical activity and opportunities for flow experiences Observe their existing skill set and show you value this - tell me about what you know, what you are interested in and what you are good at, always allowing for a regression due to trauma Respect their need to simply ‘fit in’ and ‘be normal,’ nurturing resilience through love, empowerment, engagement, connection, and the development of coping skills The key is school itself - simply ‘being in school’ is the best medicine for our refugee children - providing safety, security and routine which will enable their post-traumatic growth and give them the hope so needed by all right now.