Young refugees and asylum seekers need more educational support

Schools urgently need additional funding and training to support young refugees and asylum seekers, representatives at the Annual Conference of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union agreed today.

Teachers are putting enormous effort into the education and care of these vulnerable children and young people, but they desperately need access to appropriate resources and support in order to fully meet their pupils’ needs.

Representatives at the Conference in Glasgow have agreed a motion calling for fully funded training and teaching resources to support teachers working with refugees and asylum seekers.

The NASUWT campaigning will be calling for a significant increase in funding and access to CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) support, and for more schools to become Refugee Welcome Schools.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“Teachers have a vital role to play in ensuring that young refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed and integrated into their communities.

“However, we cannot ignore the Government’s misguided rhetoric which is undermining the efforts of schools in ensuring the safety and security of refugee and asylum seeking children and families.

“These children and young people have already experienced great suffering and hardship and so it is vital that they and their families are supported properly and with decency when they arrive in the UK.

“Changing the lives of refugee and asylum seeker children begins with education, and we want every school to be funded and supported to deliver the very best support that all children and young people need to realise their full potential.”