Semi-structured interviews were conducted with head teachers from three schools, eleven asylum-seeking and refugee families with children under the age of eight and members of staff from the following organisations:
1) The Good Things Foundation
2) New Beginnings Project
3) Family Voice
4) Learn for Life
5) City of Sanctuary Sheffield (COSS)
6) Health Inclusion Team
7) Refugee Council
The focus of the research is Sheffield, thus all participants are located in Sheffield, except for The Good Things Foundation which is a national organisation, however, they work in partnership with local organisations.
The project underwent ethical review at Sheffield Hallam University. All participants were given information sheets and consent forms to read prior to the interviews. All participants' names have not been used in order to protect their identities. All participants were made aware of their right to withdraw and given the opportunity to read and comment on this report prior to its publication.
Questions for families
Did you experience any challenges in accessing early childhood education for your child/ren before the Covid-19 pandemic?
What challenges did the Covid-19 pandemic present in accessing early childhood education for your child/ren?
Since the periods of lockdown ended, are there any ongoing challenges for you in accessing early childhood education for your child/ren?
How were the challenges you mentioned overcome?
Did you receive any help from school in overcoming the challenges? How did they help?
Did you receive any help from any organisations in overcoming the challenges? How did they help?
Did you receive any help from anyone else in overcoming the challenges? How did they help?
Questions for Schools
In your experience, what challenges did asylum-seekers and refugees have in accessing early childhood education before the Covid-19 pandemic?
Drawing from your experience, what challenges did the Covid-19 pandemic present for asylum seekers and refugees in accessing early childhood education?
Since the periods of lockdown ended, are you aware of any ongoing challenges for asylum seekers and refugees in accessing early childhood education?
Did you do anything differently or extra to support asylum seekers and refugees with young children to access early childhood education throughout the pandemic?
What about since the periods of lockdown? Are there any changes to the way you worked that are still in place today?
Questions for organisations
Can you tell me about your organisation?
Can you tell me about how you worked with asylum seekers and refugees with young children before the Covid-19 pandemic?
Can you tell me about how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the way you worked with asylum seekers and refugees?
In your experience, what challenges did asylum-seekers and refugees have in accessing early childhood education before the Covid-19 pandemic?
Drawing from your experience, what challenges did the Covid-19 pandemic present for asylum seekers and refugees in accessing early childhood education?
Since the periods of lockdown ended, are you aware of any ongoing challenges for asylum seekers and refugees in accessing early childhood education?
Did you do anything differently or extra to support asylum seekers and refugees with young children to access early childhood education throughout the pandemic?
What about since the periods of lockdown? Are there any changes to the way you worked that are still in place today?