A Syrian refugee has arrived

[WelshMoth]

...in my form class. No English as yet.
As a form tutor, I'd love to be able to help him out and support him in any way I can. He's 12, school have given him his uniform and some basic equipment, but I'd really like to help out.

What are my options here? I have so much stuff I don't need - from rucksacks, pencil cases, to good second hand coats. Am I seriously over stepping the line by seeing if him and his family need them?

Place marking to find out more.

Will he have to learn Welsh

It's so heart warming to read your updates, please keep them coming. its fantastic to hear how the other children are responding, I hope they spread this within their communities as Britain seems like a bleak daily mail reading place sometimes.

Keep updating please OP.

DS has an Eritrean refugee in his class (teenager, arrived unaccompanied speaking no English, being fostered by local family). Learning about this boy's story, what he has been through and how he takes nothing for granted has been a great learning experience for DS and his classmates.

Thanks everyone.

MrsMorton, he will be attending Welsh but he won't have to learn it. I've questioned in the past the sense in him (and other EAL pupils) attending Welsh and our unit feels that the language of the class will benefit him more than the Welsh.

There isn't any pressure on him whatsoever, and in KS4, he may well attend more literacy/ maths etc, but for now, he can sit in and pick up the class lingo.

I would perhaps leave the clothes but offer a rucksack with pencil case, pens and pencils and paper for homework.

Hi everyone.
My new pupil us now kitted out stationary wise. A quick question:

We have silent reading in form once a week - I want to buy him a book for enjoyment. Through google translate, I tried to ask him what he liked and he shook his head doubtfully when I asked about adventure or action. Maybe he's had enough 'action' in his short life to last him a lifetime...

He hasn't heard of Harry Potter or The Hunger Games so I said I'd find something.

It's a book for enjoyment so I want to be able to find something in Arabic that is age appropriate and uplifting. Where on earth can I start?!

Bump

Maybe ask Al Saqi Books to recommend something? It's a longstanding Arabic language bookshop in London and they seem to have a children's section.

www.alsaqibookshop.com

Amazon have Harry Potter in Arabic if that's of any use?

Or as you say, Harry Potter is available in Arabic on Amazon.

Though I wonder how he'd get on with the storyline just now, given what he's going through?

x-post!

I think the first few Harry Potters are okay though - it doesn't get really war-heavy until the end of the series and it's a nice bit of escapism.

If he likes football football stories seem a popular "safe" alternative for boys.

With letter formation perhaps it would help to get him some exercises like those aimed at children in KS1 if they aren't too babyish. If he's partially familiar with the letters then wordsearches can be good as they get them to focus on the form of the letters - perhaps he could do something like that during silent reading?

These are great suggestions.

Thanks everyone.