Catherine Whitaker, School-Home Support (SHS) Practitioner, supports multiple pupils and families who are seeking asylum in the UK. She recommends:
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Be a kind ear. Children and families often need to talk about what they’ve been through.
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Find out about their housing situation. Temporary housing is often unsuitable for children and your support may be required.
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Help them with budgeting or find someone who can. If they get an allowance, it’s likely to be very low.
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Buddy the family up with another family who speak the same language.
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Emphasise school attendance, punctuality and routine. Children find comfort in consistency.
Watch this video to find out more about Catherine’s work with refugee families.