A new “careers toolkit” for Ukrainian schoolchildren and other youngsters where English isn’t their first language will be rolled out across all West of England schools, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has announced.
The West of England Combined Authority will work with ‘ESL’ (English as a Second Language) careers experts MYPATH and EAL Inclusive Ltd to create brand new online resources for schools that will include careers activities and employer videos to help the Ukraine kids, and other non-native-English-speaking pupils.
11 schools across the region have 20% or higher EAL students, and this number has gone up after the war in Ukraine forced mothers and their children to leave their homes and head West.
Evidence shows many EAL learners struggle to understand what’s available to them beyond GCSEs which can often result in poor results in school too.
Mayor Norris is determined to address this and help the West’s new Ukraine neighbours and others reach their full potential, with the brand-spanking-new careers toolkit to be piloted later this year before being rolled out across the region for all to use from the summer, Mayor Norris confirmed.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris is urging all locals who speak Ukrainian and other languages to take part in the videos to help all West of England schoolchildren thrive. He said: “Great career advice matters. It can encourage young people to expand their horizons and put the wheels in motion on their journey to skilled, secure and well-paid jobs that mean something to them. But making sure all our young people understand what’s out there for them to show off their talents later in life - including our new and dear Ukranian neighbours - is so, so important. I’m pleased the West of England Combined Authority is taking action to support talented Ukrainian youngsters and every single one of our young people to understand just how valuable they are, and to achieve their full potential”.
1,324 Ukrainians have settled in the West of England under the Ukraine sponsorship scheme with host families - 613 in Bristol, 331 in Bath and NE Somerset and 380 in South Gloucestershire.
