An initiative supporting pupils who do not speak English as a first language is thriving at a primary school within the Diocese of Norwich St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust.
Diss Church of England Junior Academy is attended by around 170 children – with 23 languages spoken by members of the school community and their families.
This academic year is the second in which the academy has been part of the Young Interpreter Scheme, offering training for pupils keen to develop the skills needed to support new arrivals to settle in and feel welcome.
Not only does this work help those children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), the students who become Young Interpreters are introduced to a range of communications techniques that strengthen their own academic learning.
Samuel, a Year 6 pupil who is part of Young Interpreter Scheme, said:
“To me, it means helping people to meet new people and make friends. Not only are you empathetic, you can also help people with their learning and help them to read things that aren’t in their language.”
Maria, a multilingual Year 5 pupil, said:
“I think it is very helpful for children because sometimes they have a hard time understanding English as sometimes that’s their second language or they just have trouble with it in general.”
A range of resources are issued to the school and each individual pupil who joins the programme – including sashes and badges – to ensure new arrivals to the school are aware which of their peers are trained Young Interpreters.
Those children taking part in the scheme also carry a lanyard featuring 18 image cards, which are a vital tool to help pupils unable to fully express themselves in English to point out what they want or need support with.
Miss Soong, a class teacher who leads on the Young Interpreter Scheme at Diss Church of England Junior Academy, said:
“It’s particularly helpful for children who are new to the country and have never been to a school in England before; they don’t know how things work here or the processes that we take for granted. Whether that’s going to collective worship, going for lunch, how breaktime works.
“Our Young Interpreters can give tours to those children, they can be a buddy to those children, and they have lots of skills that they are taught to help communicate in lots of different ways. All of which help make other children feel supported and feel welcome.”
Discussing the qualities possessed by the pupils who have signed up to help through the scheme, Miss Soong added:
“They are all compassionate, they’re all caring, they’re all really empathetic, and they use those skills to help other children. And it’s not just the children who don’t speak English who can get help from a young interpreter, they will help anyone who they see is in need.”
Paul Dunning, Director of Education for the Diocese of Norwich, said:
“It is wonderful to see how successful the Young Interpreter Scheme has become at Diss Church of England Junior Academy, due in no small part to the ongoing commitment of staff and participating pupils to create a welcoming learning environment for all.”