SMILE toolkits
SMILE education toolkit (PDF)
This toolkit provides a background to the UK education system and applying for a school place. It outlines some of the issues faced by refugee children in the education system and lists useful resources for finding out more.
Other useful documents
DCSF: Statutory guidance on the education of looked after children (PDF, 2005)
Guidance from the Department of Children, Schools and Families on the duty of local authorities to promote the educational achievements of looked after children.
DCSF: New Arrivals Excellence Programme (PDF, September 2007)
Department of Children, Schools and Families guidelines for schools on students arriving from outside the UK.
DCSF: Children at Risk of Missing Education (PDF, 2004)
This guidance provides practical steps to help Local Education Authorities (LEAs) implement effective systems for identifying and maintaining contact with children missing, or at risk of going missing, from education.
Refugee Council: Inclusive Schools Report (PDF, May 2008)
This report discusses the findings of the research phase which explored the needs and experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in relation to secondary schooling. The research consisted of 70 in-depth interviews, and questionnaire surveys with refugee community organisations, secondary schools and local authorities, to examine the experiences and needs of these groups; identify key barriers to inclusion, and identify examples of practice aimed at overcoming these barriers.
Refugee Council: Hand in Hand Resource Pack (PDF, November 2008)
‘Hand in Hand’ is a resource pack designed to help schools and community organisations work together to meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in secondary education. This resource pack has also been created to help foster community cohesion by engaging parents and carers of refugees, and the wider community, in inclusive education activities.
