This year EMTAS would like to gather the voices of Ethnically diverse and EAL children in Devon schools on what it means to them to ‘be seen in school’. This project also coincides with refugee week occurring on 17-23 June. We will collate the video clips to create a short video and this video will be shared with schools, used on our website and future events/publications. Before publishing we will share the full video with participating schools 2 days prior and the deadline for all submissions is the 5th of July.
We are asking for your help to collate these voices by the way of short video clips, and it would be lovely if EAL children did this in their home language.
Only 4% of Devon schools homepages on their website contain a visibly ethnically diverse child or member of staff and these small things are crucial to helping a child to feel seen in school.
Through our EDI pupil forums children have told us that being seen and included in school means:
- They are represented on the school website
- They see ethnically diverse children on school displays and notice boards
- Their culture is celebrated through cultural days and through the curriculum
- They have friends
- There is a Cultural champions groups in the school
- There is an EAL club/hub
- They had a buddy when they first started
- The use of their home language is promoted within the school
- The school are flexible with homework, by considering cultural needs
- The school has a prayer room
- They are allowed to wear religious and cultural items along with their uniform
- They feel safe
- Their welcome meeting had an interpreter so they could ask every question they had
- They feel included
- They receive EAL intervention
These are just a few examples.
To view more details, including parental letters, consent forms and guidance please download the ‘Be seen’ booklet