We are thrilled to announce that we are the FIRST School of Sanctuary in Suffolk! A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all children including migrants and refugees.

As staff, we teach the pupils about the difficulties that people experience around the world, which builds empathy and understanding. We encourage visitors to the school to ensure the pupils have a broad understanding of the wider world as well as their own culture and identity. Since the launch of the award, many parents from diverse backgrounds have offered their skills to enhance the curriculum including multicultural cooking workshops and language exchange sessions.

As part of the children’s refugee awareness projects, the youngest children read a book called ‘There’s a Boy Just Like Me’ by Frasier Cox. It amplifies the fact that despite different cultures, we should all be treated with respect. It reminds readers that in finding common ground, we can all find hope in the friendships we make. The children were so inspired by this story. The children wrote friendship poems after discussing what it means to be a kind and considerate person. We also spoke about how we would welcome a refugee if they were to visit or join our school. 

In Key Stage Two, the pupils have been addressing common misconceptions about migrants and refugees. They researched famous refugees to highlight the amazing contributions migrants and refugees have made to our diverse society. The pupils are encouraged to think empathetically about the plight of refugees and have shown solidarity to their local resettled Afghan and Ukrainian community by sending welcome cards.

Wood Ley Primary is committed to being a welcoming and safe place for all. We are not just a sanctuary for those whose lives were in danger, but to any pupils who are experiencing difficulties at home or are just needing a place to feel secure and safe. We take pride in the provision that is already in place to ensure that our curriculum promotes diversity and inclusion.  

We would welcome any suggestions or ideas parents may have as we continue our School of Sanctuary journey. Please contact Miss Kay to discuss.  

Feel free to take a look at the official School of Sanctuary website here: Schools of Sanctuary | Building a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary (cityofsanctuary.org)