Translation support information

Language maybe a barrier to an initial induction meeting, communicating with parents or pupils. Some families may have been taught English in school and this will have been taught as a second language and may only be at a basic level. The level of English will be different for every family.

There are several options that you can use to support with interpretation:

Use a trusted family member/friend or volunteer

When setting up the meeting ask the family if they have someone they know and trust that could interpret for them. There are members of the local community who have offered to translate, contact The Vulnerable Groups Team for information.

Book a face-to-face interpreter

Powys uses Wales Interpretations and Translation Services (WITs) for this and they will need time to process the request and it can be very expensive because you pay for travel time and costs in addition to the meeting. We only recommended using them, if there are statutory or significant other concerns.

Wales Interpretation and Translation Services - Home

Please access the website for information in Welsh here

Book an online interpreter via TEAMS or phone

This is a significantly cheaper option than face to face. It does rely on having good internet system, a good speaker phone and being able to set the meeting up. Someone from school would need to coordinate this and book in advance. There are a number of Interpretation services but the Powys Vulnerable Groups Team use WITs.

Use translation apps

We recommend SayHi app (free) - the conversations may not be fluent, but you will be able to ask basic information, find out likes and dislikes and ensure there are no health or ALN concerns.

The document link provides the information needed to access WITs. Schools can do this independently at any time.

All interpretation requests will need a PO before requesting.

Good practice guide - booking an interpreter

Good practice guide - booking a document for translation

Please be aware that the need for Ukrainian/Dari/Pashto interpreters is likely to be extremely high at this time and we are anticipating that it might be difficult to access these. It would be advisable to ask families about any other languages that they would be comfortable communicating in. For example, whilst most Ukrainians will understand Russian, do not assume they will be comfortable to use this at this time. The Arabic dialects may vary.

Other useful apps or programmes

Microsoft translator for education https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/translator/education/

Microsoft - Translator App: Apps - Microsoft Translator

Read language - web reader: Web Reader - Readlang

Say Hi App for iPad or phone: SayHi Translate: Voice Translation for iOS and Android

Deep L (a more accurate version of google translate): DeepL Translate: The world's most accurate translator 

Immersive reader: https://www.onenote.com/learningtools

Mantra Lingua - Library of translated school letters, words, and paragraphs: https://webapps.mantralingua.com/library/document

Hwb - Just2easy Five: Access this on the hwb and use the speech to text function