From Research to Policy & Practice Rowena Arshad

What research tells us (1) The Impact of Migrant Children in Glasgow Schools (Stephen Dillon: 2013 with Glasgow EAL Services and COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership) The Impact of Migrant Children in Glasgow Schools Evidencing the Social and Cultural Benefits and Costs of Migration in Scotland COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership (CSMP), Glasgow Refugee Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMNet), Centre for Russian, Central and East European Studies (CRCEES), Glasgow University Evidencing the Social and Cultural Benefits and Costs of Migration in Scotland

What research tells us (2) At Home Abroad: The life experiences of Eastern European migrant children in Scotland Daniela Sime, Rachael Fox, Emilia Pietka, University of Strathclyde (2011) At Home Abroad: The life experiences of Eastern European migrant children in Scotland Language and cultural capital in school experience of Polish children in Scotland Marta Moskal (2014) Language and cultural capital in school experience of Polish children in Scotland

Other sources: reviews etc.. Age and Social Isolation – GRAMNet response to public inquiry by the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Scottish Parliament (2015) Age and Social Isolation – GRAMNet response to public inquiry by the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Scottish Parliament Public perception of A8 migrants: the discourse of the media and its impacts: an outline review (BEMIS 2011) Public perception of A8 migrants: the discourse of the media and its impacts: an outline review Migration Policy Toolkit: An online guide to welcoming, integrating and engaging migrant communities in Scotland (updated 2015) Migration Policy Toolkit: An online guide to welcoming, integrating and engaging migrant communities in Scotland Refugee Crisis 2015: We Stand for Children’, A position paper, September 2015 (Children in Scotland) Refugee Crisis 2015: We Stand for Children’, A position paper, September 2015

Positives Migrant children/young people enhance classrooms, culture, ethos…outperform, multilingual and high achievers, provide opportunities for intercultural learning, international links Successive SG policy position is to welcome migrants and refugees e.g. immediate fee waiver to attend college courses (such as ESOL courses) to aid integration, New Scots initiative, calls to retain the post-study work visa COSLA’s Strategic Migration Partnership (CSMP) -Migration Policy Toolkit with lots of ideas, links and information for local authorities Areas like Glasgow have ‘softened’ as they have become more familiar with diversity Migrants have contributed to revitalising or even saved services/economy in some areas - turning grim areas into welcoming places More artistic and cultural diversity - vibrant

Concerns/Challenges (1) Migrant children likely to be more vulnerable e.g. loneliness, racism, bullying, prejudice Migrant children’s experiences varied- some finding migration a positive experience to those still suffering trauma Practice varied across provision sites e.g. levels of acknowledging and celebrating diversity Lack of awareness for both incoming and receiving communities can and does cause tensions Complacency in Scotland that all is fine as we are welcoming

Concerns/Challenges (2) New initiatives have largely catered for new migrants only – causing ‘host’ communities or settled migrants to feel undervalued, neglected Consulting and involving whole communities to migration issues is important- more nuanced understanding needed of differences More strategic leadership at SG and LG levels needed

Concerns/Challenges (3) Intersections of class, ethnicity, nationality, place affect children and young people’s experiences A need for more EAL/ESOL provision for both young people and adults Falling through the gaps.. e.g. single parent families, Roma Misinformation/misconception that migrants get a lot of support

Policy & Practice (1) Greater consistency of quality provision – standards, reaction to diversity, willingness to deal with discrimination related issues A need for each area to consider implications for their sector - some doing more than others Improved communication for both migrants but also host communities EAL/ESOL services should be enhanced and funded appropriately Learning 1+2 – how will this assist support L1 of migrant pupil

Policy & Practice (2) Staff awareness and capacity to be improved- e.g. teacher expectations of migrant pupils, need to assess wider than just English language competence Inclusion strategies should explicitly address issues of cultural diversity, racism and related matters Services that work with vulnerable children and YP need to be aware of different needs and issues for migrant people Major and repeated media drives required to highlight the benefits of migration

Policy & Practice (3) Loneliness – adults but also young people – lack of public spaces and opportunities to meet socially with host communities Urban/rural specificities Young people need to be central to policy for the future – more contemporary, cutting edge, modern. Migrant young people - mentioned but not engaged and in some areas – completely absent