Ukraine: resources for schools and families

Resources to welcome young people and their families from Ukraine to Scotland

Ukraine: resources for schools and families

The languages community in Scotland has, like people all across the world, been rocked by the heart-breaking images we see from the Ukraine. Many schools and communities will be preparing to welcome Ukrainian children, young people and their parents. 

The SCILT team stands with the people of the Ukraine, with all displaced people and with all innocent victims and survivors of conflict. We also stand with the people of Russia who do not have a voice to condemn what is being perpetrated in their name, and especially with those who have found the courage to resist and protest, at great risk to themselves and their families. 

The only way to a more tolerant and peaceful world is through international collaboration based on mutual respect and cultural understanding. Languages whether spoken, used or learned in our classrooms and communities are important. Not only for the children and young people in Scotland’s schools, but also for their families, our society, and the global community. 

We have collated a selection of resources to support schools in welcoming families arriving from Ukraine.

Scottish schools / Шотландські школи

A guide to Scottish schools for children and families arriving from Ukraine. In Ukrainian. / Інформація про шотландські школи для дітей та батьків з України, українською мовою.

This video has been produced by Fiona Normansell of South Ayrshire. Fiona is an experienced language teacher and 1+2 Development Officer who specialises in EAL. We are grateful to her for sharing this video and hope that they will reassure young people who are new to the Scottish school system.

This video has been translated using PowerPoint captions. Ukrainian subtitles are can also be selected in YouTube.

This video is also available with Russian subtitles / Это видео можно посмотреть с субтитрами на русском языке.

Education in time of crisis (Council of Europe) - The Council of Europe has developed a number of tools to facilitate the integration of migrants and refugees through language learning, recognition of qualifications or training. You can also learn more about initiatives implemented in other member states of the Council of Europe.

Supporting the (linguistic) integration of refugees from Ukraine - These dedicated webpages support the linguistic integration of refugees from Ukraine. In particular, the range of PDF guides will be useful for teachers. New resources and other relevant information will be added as they become available.

The Bell Foundation’s session on “Welcoming Ukrainian Arrivals” was held on 12 May 2022 and is now available to watch on YouTube. This forms part of a series of seminars on this topic.

Language Connect Language Mats in Ukrainian and Russian - Downloadable mats of everyday classroom language.

Twinkl Ukrainian resources - Downloadable resources from Twinkl to support Ukrainian children.

Languagenut - Free language learning resources for schools supporting Ukrainian refugees

Russian/English dual-language resources - Printables for early years from Little Owls.

Ukrainian Phrases for Schools (PDF) - An excerpt from the book, “Ukrainian, one day at a time”, published to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee. Please access this accompanying YouTube video for help with pronunciation. For access to the accompanying video for the full book, click on this YouTube link.

Posters: Rights matter. You matter. Don't lose hope. - The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland has created a printable poster from a 7 Word Story which was written by a child in Scotland in 2019, ‘Rights Matter. You Matter. Don’t Lose Hope.’ It is a message of solidarity and hope to children affected by the war: in Ukraine, in Russia and in Scotland.

Lingobox Learning has an interactive Ukrainian Language Pack with audio files for pronunciation, to help Ukrainians to learn English, and also to help English speakers to learn Ukrainian.

Refugee Phrase Book has an open collection of useful words and phrases to the most common immediate needs for refugees who have just arrived.

Powerpoint Immersive Reader (YouTube video) - How to set subtitles as captions in Powerpoint (Microsoft 365 - accessible through Glow) to provide a real-time translation of speech.

How to translate a page in Immersive Reader using Edge (YouTube video) - Using the immersive reader function in Microsoft Edge to translate web pages for learners without English.

Powerpoint Live (YouTube video) - Using PowerPoint live to support Ukrainian students in our classrooms.

Resources to support EAL and Bilingualism - Support, advice and guidance on teaching EAL and promoting bilingualism. Compiled by SCILT.

e-Sgoil - beginner English classes for Ukrainian families “Beginner's English for Ukrainian Families – Free online conversational English in a supportive community setting. Every Thursday 6pm - 7.30pm starting Thursday 12th May 2022. Email for more information.
Download the flyer in English or in Ukrainian to share with families.

Aberdeen City EAL Service - Aberdeen City EAL Service have collated information and resources to help those who have arrived from Ukraine and those supporting them. Information continues to be added. This website includes resources, helpful information, links to English classes online and in the Aberdeen area, and CLPL opportunities.

Beginning EAL - Support materials for Years 2-6 (Australian resource from Victoria State)

ESL Kids' Stuff - Lesson plans, flashcards, worksheets, songs, classroom readers, crafts and games.

The Bell Foundation - Ideas for teaching EAL, integrating students using EAL into mainstream lessons, welcoming refugee and asylum seeking learners and encouraging translanguaging to foster positive attitudes towards multilingualism and encouraging EAL learners to be proud of all their language skills. Here is the recording of the Bell Foundation’s webinar on How to Support New Refugee Arrivals in the Classroom (Secondary) from 27/5/22.

Beginners English as an Additional Language from BBC Bitesize. This resource seeks to meet the need of “emergency English”. The original series is English-only, followed by translated versions of the pages into Arabic, Mandarin, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Ukrainian and Urdu. 

EAL Hub - Quality, downloadable resources for teaching English as an Additional Language.

Be Bilingual Leaflets (The EAL Highlands Team) - These leaflets are published by Aberdeenshire EAL Service and promote bilingualism and the benefits of maintaining and developing home languages. They are published in a number of different languages and aslo have links for further information.

SayHi free translation app - Automatic speech recognition and text-to-speech translation of 101 languages and dialects, including Ukrainian.

TEAMS (Teaching That Matters For Migrant Students) - Preliminary findings and key messages from the TEAMS project into treating migrant integration into schools as a norm of diversity of modern teaching.

Guide to Naming Conventions - a very useful reference document when registering children from different cultural backgrounds into school (including Ukrainian naming systems).

This Wakelet, set up by Fiona Normansell of South Ayrshire, has a collection of EAL resources for primary and secondary pupils. The focus is on Ukrainian pupils but many of the sites here can be used for all EAL pupils.

SQA Academy has a collection of ESOL resources from National 2 to Higher level.

Support for learners who are new to English The Goethe Institut’s Kinder Uni has a range of videos and courses across different subjects that are available in different languages, including Ukrainian. The default language is English so the target language has to be chosen from the drop-down menu below the Goethe Institut logo each time you sign in. Great resource to support language learning in a range of languages!

All-Ukrainian Online School - All-Ukrainian online school is a platform for distance and blended learning of students in grades 5-11 and methodological support for teachers. The goal of the All-Ukrainian School Online is to provide every Ukrainian student and teacher with equal, free and free access to quality educational content.

Resources supporting Ukrainian children’s right to education - The Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights has prepared an information guide to provide Ukrainian children with the opportunity to continue their education. It includes links to educational resources in Ukrainian and in English to facilitate the continuous education process for the displaced children of Ukraine.

Ukrainian online textbooks - electronic versions of various, standard textbooks. Organised by level.

Ukrainian online kindergarten - platform with games and exercises to support pre-school development.

Storybooks in Ukrainian - picture books organised under different headings, including 'Comforting stories for children in a time of war' and 'Bedtime stories for young children'.

Reading texts in Ukrainian and English - Support Ukrainian language development with this collection of texts at a variety of reading levels.

Ukrainian e-book lending service 

EU Education Gateway - education and support for Ukrainian learners.

Overview of the Ukrainian education system.

Ukrainian educational and language resources - A compilation of educational and language resources, as well as books and audiobooks, for Ukrainian families and educators.

The Ukrainian Education System – this article describes the layout of the Ukrainian education system from elementary through to doctorate level. 

EIS booklets - Going to school in Scotland - The EIS has produced a suite of educational packs to welcome young people from migrant and refugee families into Scottish schools. This booklet has been translated into several languages, including Ukrainian. It is also available in audio translation in several languages, including Ukrainian.

Guidance for parents of students who use EAL: About the Scottish education system from The Bell Foundation - these practical guidance documents for parents providing key information to help understand the Scottish education system, including: How to find a school place; Who's who in school; What will be taught and tested in school. The guidance is available in 12 of the most commonly used first languages in UK schools, including Ukrainian.

Activity book for refugee children from Ukraine. The the MyLifeJourneyBook aims to strengthen the resilience of refugee children from Ukraine. Sharing intense experiences helps to process them and can help prevent trauma to children. With this book, children can write their experiences of the journey, but also their memories of Ukraine and their hopes for the future. The book can be downloaded free of charge.

Education Scotland: Teaching about conflict and war - This resource can be used to provide support to children and young people who may be anxious about what they see or hear in the news. Many of these resources deal specifically with Ukraine.

Welcoming Refugee Children: Advice and Guidance for Schools (Webinar on YouTube) - This webinar from The Bell Foundation looks at working with refugees. Although this workshop was based on Afghanistan, the information is transferrable. Links to further support can be found in the comments on YouTube.

Barnardo's Ireland - Talking to children about war

Barnardo’s have a freephone refugee helpline service. Download the poster with free phone number (attached) or access the dedicated website : 

British Red Cross: Ukraine - Support on how to approach global conflicts, like the Ukrainian crisis, with learners.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Many refugees, especially children, have experienced trauma related to war or persecution that may affect their mental and physical health long after the events have occurred. These traumatic events may occur while the refugees are in their country of origin, during displacement from their country of origin, or in the resettlement process.

Suggested books about refugees and immigration - Books to explore immigration and refugee experiences with children.

Fife Council: Supporting Discussions about Ukraine - Due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine many children and young people may have a variety of questions or display some anxieties. These resources may be helpful for parents, carers, teachers and school staff in support children and young people at this time.

Save The Children: how to talk to children about war

Voices of children: video storytelling - The stories of children who live next to the war zone.

Trauma and ACEs - podcast

CELCIS - Supporting child refugees and their families - This resource brings together advice, guidance, information and training to help people in Scotland working with and supporting children and families in a professional, voluntary or personal capacity, and across Europe.

Newsround has gathered together its news reports relating to the conflict in Ukraine

Newsround also has a page of advice if children are upset by what they hear or read in the news. 

Speaking with children about the war in Ukraine - Some advice from Schools of Sanctuary, drawing on a variety of articles and resources, to help children navigate the news they’ve been seeing and how they feel about it. 

The UNHCR website has a wide range of resources and animations suitable for Primary and Secondary Schools. These explain and explore the terms refugee, migration and asylum generally. 

UNHCR Teaching About Refugees 2021 - Stress and Trauma Guidebook - This guidebook describes some of the common behaviours stressed or traumatized children may display and offers some ideas for activities that may help relieve stress or trauma in the classroom. 

UNHCR Teaching About Refugees 2021 - Guide for Teachers - Recommended approaches for teaching the subject of forced displacement in primary and secondary schools and use of UNHCR’s Teaching About Refugees teaching materials. 

From The News Literacy Project, here are tips to share with learners on how to critically assess news sources.

Ways to speak to children about events in Ukraine (pdf) - Trauma Informed Schools UK has produced resources to help speak to children about events in Ukraine. 

World Refugee Day takes place on 20th June each year.

Taken from UNICEF’s Article of The Week, this PowerPoint can be used to introduce World Refugee Day.

Separatedchild.org have some personal stories from refugee children who arrived in the UK unaccompanied.

A comprehensive presentation of advice on talking to children about the war in Ukraine. From Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

What is happening in Ukraine and why? - Background information from First News Education on the war in Ukraine.

Education resources on refugee and asylum issues - Amnesty International’s educational resources on refugees and asylum seekers, accessible and appropriate for primary learners.

Beacon House has freely available resources in English, Ukrainian and Russian so that knowledge about the repair of trauma and adversity is in the hands of those who need it.

Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners, produced by Highland One World and ScotDec, is an education resource for teachers in primary and secondary settings to explore fears and develop greater agency to discuss the Ukraine conflict with their learners.

How to access NHS services. In Ukrainian and Russian.

Welcome to Scotland: A guide to Scots Scots Law (Ukrainian) and (English) - Adjusting to life in a new country can be an anxious and confusing experience and guidance on the customs and laws of the land is not always easily available. This guide is available in 9 further languages. From New College Lanarkshire in collaboration with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland.

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain - The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) is the largest representative body for Ukrainians and those of Ukrainian descent in the UK. It exists to develop, promote and support the interests of the Ukrainian community in the UK.

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain frequently update this Google Drive of files containing contacts in Scotland, information about English courses, medical services guides, etc. all in Ukrainian.

Also on the AUGB website, there is a page of useful links for sponsors and displaced persons

Responding to the crisis in Ukraine - The Scottish Refugee Council has put together some information for people in Scotland who are affected by the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine, and for people who want to find out how they can help.

Scottish Refugee Council’s range of guides, factsheets and toolkits in English, Ukrainian and Russian to help newly arrived families understand their rights in Scotland. 

Help with how to talk to children about Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Department for Education (UK Government) - guidance and support in talking to young people about distressing, complex and emotive news stories.

Feniks is a grass-roots charitable organisation set up in 2007 to support Central Eastern European community in Edinburgh and Scotland. They can provide culturally sensitive psychological support, amongst other services.

Learning Ukrainian website

LingoBox Ukrainian Book

Lonely Planet Ukrainian Phrasebook (Download the PDF for free)

Supporting Ukrainians (OpenLearn) - (in Ukrainian) this is a new course with resources for Ukrainians on OpenLearn. It has been designed to help displaced Ukrainian refugees and the people helping to support them.

Free online resources for Ukrainians settling in the UK and Ireland from OpenLearn.

Amazing Ukraine – tourism video launched in 2018 showing the beauty, diversity and history of Ukraine. 

A country profile including facts about Ukraine.

Global Grasshopper’s tourist guide to the 15 best places to visit in the Ukraine, to bring the beauty of Ukraine to life.

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages