Recent reports show that more inclusive solutions are required to foster the integration of migrant children in Europe.

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The European Social Network has recently released a report on promoting the social inclusion of migrant children and young people and the duty of social services.  

The report identifies the main challenges for migrant children to ‘access education and training, healthcare and guardianship’ and provides an overview of the national legislation related to unaccompanied migrant children in Europe.

The study reveals that a long asylum application process, together with delayed access to education and care, hamper integration into host societies. The report suggests that individual support for children with specific needs and provision of a guardian should be ensured immediately upon a child’s arrival. Moreover, the study also suggests that psychologists, healthcare workers, teachers and other staff members in reception centres should have relevant professional experience of working with culturally diverse children. Finally, the study provides examples of best practice from across the Member States showing how to ease the integration of migrant children into host communities.

Supporting diversity and teachers’ development at schools

The OECD’s report, Resilience of Students with an Immigrant Background: Factors that Shape Well-Being analyses the importance of education systems, schools and teachers in helping immigrant students integrate into their host societies. It also explores what protective factors promote the academic, social, emotional and motivational resilience of migrant children.

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) report, Mainstreaming 2.0: How Europe’s Education Systems Can Boost Migrant Inclusion, highlights that European schools are the main drivers for integrating migrant children. In recent years many European education systems have had to adapt to the multicultural classrooms to equip children with the appropriate skills to continue their education and succeed in the job market. The authors also highlight the importance of skilled teachers and support for service providers. The report provides examples of successful programmes to inform policymakers in education and other sectors about positive approaches to build an inclusive community and social cohesion.

A policy brief by SIRIUS on ‘developing teachers’ capacity to deal with diversity’ provides further insights on how schools prepare for diverse classrooms. The brief outlines that it is necessary to establish ‘a comprehensive system of teacher education’ in order to equip teachers with the relevant skills and increase their competences. According to the brief, the system needs to ensure that ‘multiple aspects of diversity such as multilingualism, intercultural education, empathy learning or citizenship education’ are integrated into the continuous professional development (CPD) programmes.

Importance of civic education

Active participation and good citizenship are also emphasised in another MPI report, ‘Designing Civic Education for Diverse Societies: Models, Trade-offs, and Outcomes’. The study looks at civic education in modern societies as a tool for a more rapid integration of migrant children. Political engagement, ‘interethnic and general trust, the ability to participate and basic knowledge of political systems’ are the key elements for future societies. Therefore, as the report concludes, civic engagement should be fostered in all school children across Europe.

Finally, the European Commission published a ‘toolkit on the use of EU funds for the integration of people with a migrant background’ which includes practical information on how Member States can be supported in migrant integration efforts. One of the objectives of the funds is to decrease the gap in educational outcomes by providing ‘inclusive and non-segregated education’.

EPIC platform offers insights into the education of migrant children

The EPIC policy briefs analyse the challenges that migrant children (including EU migrant children) face when accessing education. The briefs focus on key areas, such as language barriers, educational attainment, or social isolation more broadly. They also identify policy responses in Europe that aim to tackle such issues and foster children’s integration.