Practitioner training at REUK
At Refugee Education UK (REUK), we’re all about enabling young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education. As education experts in the refugee sector and refugee experts in the education sector, we’re well-placed to increase training participants’ knowledge and confidence.
We run training on all stages of young refugees’ and asylum seekers’ educational journeys - from access to education to thriving and progressing in education.
Our trainers bring significant experience and expertise from the education and refugee sectors in the UK and overseas, and all our sessions include the perspectives of those with lived experience of forced migration.
Our training is ideal for anyone who wants to better understand and support young refugees’ and asylum seekers’ education and wellbeing, including staff from local authorities, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, faith groups and community organisations.
"This was one of the best courses I have attended online with very engaging content and lots of time to reflect and discuss. It has really improved my knowledge and confidence in this area. I particularly liked the variety of attendees and the fact that time was given to chat about what each of us did through the course, so it was also good networking."
Participant feedback
“REUK’s Access to HE training provided us with an invaluable insight into how to support refugees and asylum seekers in HE. From learning the basic terminology to challenging our thoughts on what we plan to put in place, the course was of real value. We are now in a much better position to support refugees and asylum seekers accessing HE at Solent University.
“Solent University is currently working towards becoming a University of Sanctuary. To support us in our ambition, we wanted to ensure our key staff had the knowledge required to create a welcome culture.
“The course was excellent value for money and still took the form of an interactive and participatory workshop, even being run virtually.”
Training name
REUK-UoN Teacher Education Course
Who is this training for?
The frontline and research teams at Refugee Education UK have joined forces with Professor Joanna McIntyre of the University of Nottingham’s School of Education to create a free, study-at-your-own-pace set of seven learning modules for teachers and other education practitioners who want to be better equipped to support the refugee learners in their classrooms.
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Designed for primary and secondary school teachers
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0 - 15 hours of self study, broken into bite-size chunks
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Links to further resources and support
What does this training cover?
The modules covered under this course are:
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Theorising refugee education: an introduction to the refugee education landscape in the UK
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Access to education: challenges young people face in entering school in the UK
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Wellbeing: this module explores the link between wellbeing and educational achievement
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English language development: the critical role of English language learning, unpacking key strategies and resources for practitioners
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Subject curricula: innovative ways in which subject curriculum can be adapted to better serve refugee children
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Progressing through education: how teachers can support children as they leave secondary school and progress towards further and higher education
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Resourcing a whole school approach: how schools can adopt an institution wide culture that promotes safety, belonging and success for refugee children
Format, duration and location
Self-study online modules
Approx 16 hours of thematically focused modules for you to complete at your own pace
Date, times, and how to book
To access these online, self study modules free of charge, join our Education Professionals Network.
Cost
Free
Other information
On request, and subject to availability, we may be able to run tailored, interactive and in-house versions of specific modules for individual institutions (either online or in person). Contact training@reuk.org to discuss your training needs.
Standard training sessions
Training name:
Access to higher education (HE) for young* refugees and asylum seekers
Who is this training for?
Anyone who wants to grow in knowledge and confidence to support young refugees and asylum seekers to access higher (ie tertiary/university level) education.
Participants typically include a mix of university staff, voluntary sector workers and local authority staff.
What does this training cover?
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Immigration statuses and terminology: This training will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.
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Refugees, asylum seekers and education: Drawing on young people’s stories and experiences, research and our team’s experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of young refugees' and asylum seekers' aspirations for and barriers to higher education.
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Eligibility for higher education: You'll come away knowing who's entitled to what when it comes to student finance and home fees.
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Practical solutions and opportunities: This training will upskill you in the educational, financial and psychosocial support options for young asylum seekers and refugees as they seek to access higher education, giving you time and support to apply this knowledge to your role and context and learn from other participants.
Watch this short video to find out more about this training
Format, duration and location
An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.
4.5 hours (including breaks).
Date, times, and how to book
Visit our booking portal for upcoming dates and to sign up.
Cost
£70 per person
Other information
On request, and subject to availability, we can run this training in house for individual institutions (either online or in person). Prices typically start at £900** for up to 20 participants online or 30 in person. Contact training@reuk.org to discuss your training needs.
*As an organisation, REUK typically works with young people between 15 and 25. We focus on this group in our training, however the majority of content is relevant for asylum seekers and refugees of any age.
**We endeavour to keep our training prices as reasonable as possible for participants, while also aiming to cover our costs and generate the income we need to run our vital services for young refugees. If these costs are prohibitive, please get in touch. We’d love to find a way to make it work together.
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Immigration statuses and terminology: This training will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.
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Eligibility to study and funding entitlements: This training will enable you to establish whether a young person has the right to study at FE and which courses they are entitled to funding for based on their age, immigration status and where they receive financial support.
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An introduction to further education: This training will help you understand the differences between FE providers, courses and qualifications. You will come away feeling more confident to support young people plan their pathway through FE.
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College enrollment: You’ll learn how to enrol a young person at college including which documentation is required to evidence eligibility and where to look for alternative sources of funding.
Watch this short video to find out more about this training.
Training name
Access to further education (FE) for young refugees and asylum seekers
Who is this training for?
Anyone who wants to grow in knowledge and confidence to support young refugees and asylum seekers to access further (post-16/college) education..
Participants typically include a mix of voluntary sector workers and local authority staff including personal advisors and social workers.
Please note that this session is not suitable for people working in the further education (FE) sector. If you work in the FE sector, please see the details below in the ‘Welcoming refugees at further education (FE) colleges’.
What does this training cover?
Format, duration and location
An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.
4 hours (including breaks).
Prior to the training, participants are required to complete an online module. This takes about 1 hour and can be done any time before the session.
Date, times, and how to book
Visit our booking portal for upcoming dates and to sign up.
Cost
£70 per person
Other information
On request, and subject to availability, we can run this training in house for individual institutions (either online or in person). Prices typically start at £900 for up to 20 participants online or 30 in person. Contact training@reuk.org to discuss your training needs.
"REUK's Access to Further Education training course perfectly suited our organisation’s learning needs. The training was excellent and designed with a perfect mixture of providing in depth and accurate information and resources as well as interactive activities to test knowledge and reinforce learning. The session was delivered over Zoom but was very visual and engaging. The trainers had a very high level of knowledge and were able to ask all the questions raised. They also provide some excellent resources that we can utilise in casework support to children and young people in future. I would thoroughly recommend this training course to anyone working with young refugees and asylum seekers who wants to better understand the FE system, the rights and entitlements of young refugees and asylum seekers and how to better advocate for them within this system."
Kalyani McCarthy, National Project Manager (Surviving to Thriving) at The British Red Cross
Participant feedback
"As a virtual school, we’ve attended this training twice already and would definitely consider it again for new members of the team or as a refresher. REUK trainers are extremely knowledgeable and responded to any queries we threw at them throughout the training in a very thorough manner. They managed to relay complex but incredibly important and relevant information for the education of our young people in a way that is digestible and easy to remember. We strongly recommend REUK training. Not only will it equip you with invaluable knowledge when directly supporting young people to access education and understand their pathway options but it will also give you extra tools when communicating the needs of young people to schools and colleges."
Gina Antchandie, UASC Project Manager at Croydon Virtual School
Training name
Welcoming refugees at Further Education (FE) Colleges
Who is this training for?
This training is developed and delivered in partnership with Colleges of Sanctuary to support colleges working towards a College of Sanctuary award although it is relevant for any member of staff working at an FE college in the UK.
The training is delivered in three stand-alone modules which have a slightly different target audience.
Module One: this is an introductory module which is suitable for all staff members and is particularly aimed at those with no prior knowledge of these issues. We would encourage colleges to send staff working on reception/front desk staff, in the canteen or on security.
Module Two: this module is aimed at any staff members involved in enrolling students and is particularly suitable for admissions and MIT staff
Module Three: this module is aimed at academic staff and those who set curriculum and timetables.
What does this training cover?
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Module 1: Overview and introduction
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In this module participants will:
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learn the difference between a range of immigration status;
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identify the difficulties and barriers faced by young refugees and asylum seekers accessing and progressing through education;
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Gain an understanding of the value of creating a culture of welcome and inclusion and examples of good practice
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Module 2: Planning for positive Enrolment
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In this module participants will:
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Understand the implication of immigration status on access to education and entitlements to funding
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Recognise the documentation sufficient for asylum seekers to successfully enrol
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Consider the application of low-income status and alternative sources of funding
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Plan how to create a positive enrolment experience in each context
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Module 3: Planning for academic success
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In this module participants will:
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Consider best practice around obtaining previous qualifications
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Identify the most effective methods of using student assessment to establish correct level of study
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Review different approaches to integrating English language support into vocational qualifications
Format, duration and location
An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.
Each module is 2.5 hours (including breaks).
Date, times, and how to book
Visit our booking portal for upcoming dates and to sign up.
Cost
Places on these training modules are purchased as credits with a sliding cost so the more credits a college purchases the cheaper each individual place will be.
Whilst it is perfectly possible to book on a session as an individual we would encourage colleges to allocate a lead booker who can purchase a number of credits and then allocate individual staff members to the appropriate training course
Other information
On request, and subject to availability, we can run this training in house for individual institutions (either online or in person). Please enquire for availability and cost.
Training sessions available on request
In addition to these training sessions, we can pull together bespoke opportunities for other organisations and institutions. The table below outlines modules that can be mixed and matched to suit participants' needs.
Please contact training@reuk.org to discuss your particular needs and how we could support you to address them.
Module name
Module content
Immigration statuses and terminology
This module will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.
The impact of trauma on learning
This module will enable you to understand how immigration status and experiences of displacement can impact young asylum seekers’ and refugees’ access to and thriving within education. It will equip you to understand the impact of trauma on learning and introduce practical strategies for supporting young refugees and asylum seekers to thrive emotionally and academically in education contexts.
Barriers to education for refugees and asylum seekers
Drawing on young people’s stories and experiences, research and our team’s experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of young refugees' and asylum seekers' aspirations for and barriers to education.
Overcoming barriers to education
Depending on preferences, this module can cover, for example:
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Eligibility for education and funding at different levels (including HE and FE)
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Support options available
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Enabling factors
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Practical support at different stages of educational journeys, such as application and enrolment
Module name and content
Module name
Module content
Wellbeing support for young refugees and asylum seekers in educational settings
Drawing on our young people’s stories and experiences, research and our team’s experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of how challenging experiences impact the learning brain and build understanding of how to support the wellbeing needs of young asylum seekers and refugees in school and classrooms.
Mental health and wellbeing support for young refugees and asylum seekers
This module is designed to give you a better understanding of how to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of young refugees and asylum seekers.
Recognising and responding to distress in young refugees and asylum seekers
This module will build your understanding of distress, including how to safeguard against distress. We will look at practical ways to support a young person experiencing distress as well as ways to care for your own wellbeing.
Module name and content
To join Refugee Education UK’s new network of education professionals and receive information about in-person training and events, research and policy updates and good practice resources, sign up for updates.
Training name
Supporting refugee students in schools
Who is this training for?
This training is aimed at teachers and other school staff (both primary and secondary). However it is also appropriate for individuals hosting refugees or anyone who wants to get some practical tools for supporting young refugees to flourish in education in the UK.
What does this training cover?
In this training we will:
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Outline the previous educational and displacement experiences* of children and young people seeking safety in the UK;
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Explain the educational implications for newly-arrived students with a focus on barriers to progress and achievement;
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Outline practical strategies that you and your school can adopt to overcome these challenges;
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Share details of free REUK and partner resources that can help you engage with refugee learners and develop your policies and practices.
*Although each webinar has a particular country focus (enabling the participants to understand the educational and displacement contexts of particular refugees), the majority of the content (such as practical interventions) is directly applicable to young refugees from all backgrounds.
Format, duration and location
Online webinar
1 hour 15 minutes (including 15 minutes for questions and information sharing)
Date, times, and how to book
Visit our booking portal for upcoming dates and to sign up.
Cost
Free
Other information
On request, and subject to availability, we can run this training in house for individual institutions (either online or in person). Contact training@reuk.org to discuss your training needs.