A Day of Welcome

Resource type: Event

Price band: Free

Key stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5

Region(s): All of UK

A Day of Welcome is an event designed specifically for schools as part of Refugee Week. It provides an opportunity for primary and secondary schools to engage with issues relating to refugee migration and to promote a culture of welcome and understanding. A Day of Welcome 2024 took place on Friday 14th June.

Each year, schools interested in running A Day of Welcome can register to access a range of supporting resources, including:

Assemblies and lesson plans for primary and secondary pupils.
Three free online author events for KS1 and KS2
Information and guidance for teachers on refugee education
Posters and stickers.

Cost: Free with registration.

About Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary: Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary is part of the City of Sanctuary movement. It is run by a group of educators and volunteers who are committed to building a culture of welcome for refugees and asylum seekers in Norfolk and beyond. A Day of Welcome is organised in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University.

Further resources:

Celebrate language diversity and different cultures with the youngest pupils with this selection of picture books chosen by Scottish Book Trust.
For primary aged children, CLPE, Books for Topics (KS1 and KS2), the National Literacy Trust, BookTrust (younger and older readers) and Scottish BookTrust (3-5 year-olds, 9-11 year-olds) all have booklists that explore the issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers.
You can find recommended booklists for secondary school pupils from BookTrust (older readers and teenagers) and Scottish BookTrust.
The Story Seekers is a free, fully-resourced oracy and creative literacy project from the National and Unicorn Theatres for pupils aged 6-11 based around finding, telling and sharing stories from around the globe.
Explore a range of teaching resources, assemblies, refugee stories and training opportunities from the Schools of Sanctuary network.
Watch a recording of the Building Sustainable Provision in Schools for Refugee Children webinar from The Bell Foundation, one of several recorded webinars looking at ways to support refugee children and EAL learners on their YouTube channel.
Watch the recording of a webinar on ‘How to Talk to Children and Young People About War: Understanding and Supporting our Refugee Children’ in which Dr Tina Rae, Educational and Child Psychologist, and Educational Consultant, outlines practical strategies to support refugees and create a welcoming and safe space in schools.
Explore the resources available for Refugee Week.
Explore our range of resources to support EAL students here.