Induction of new pupils

New arrival pupils may arrive at your school at any time of the year and you need to have a good induction procedure in place in order to support the pupil and family right from the start.

Many new arrival pupils need a lot of emotional and language support so that they can settle down in the new school environment and become effective learners in as short a time as possible.

Making sure that your school uses best practice in this area is really important. Good induction periods are essential for newly arrived children and their families who may be facing culture shock, emotional issues and economic difficulties, as well as trying to learn a new language.

Most children and families won't be familiar with the requirements of the National Curriculum, may be unfamiliar with the subjects taught and will not be sure what is expected of them. Some children may have had their schooling experiences interrupted or may have never been in school before, so they won't have any knowledge of school routines.

Getting the pupil started in a pleasant way will improve their chances of making good progress in the long run. Investing in their induction will ensure that the newly arrived pupil will get the best possible start in their new lives.

Important induction moments:

• First visit to the school for parents or carers and the child or children, with the presence of an interpreter. EMTAS will provide an interpreter for the initial admission meeting. You can book your own from Language Empire
• First meeting with the family, as the school needs to establish the family situation and educational background of the child. Reassure parents that information they tell the school will be confidential and explain about the difference in methods and how the support is going to take place
• When they arrive for their first day it's essential that the background information is shared with staff involved with their support
• Introduction of the new child to the class, showing interest in their own culture and language
• Find them a 'buddy', same language speaker if possible
• Give the pupil some helpful induction information, to make them as comfortable as possible in the new environment
• Sit them close to the teacher and provide basic classroom material 
• Involve them in every activity as they will learn some skills from observing other children
• Give them some sort of visual prompts to help them when faced with social situations

For more information please contact EMTAS on 0161 778 0477 or email emtas@salford.gov.uk.

This page was last updated on 21 June 2017