Interpreting and Translation Services

Face-to-face and video interpreting services for the Education Authority Intercultural Education Service schools are currently provided by Flex Language Services, Belfast.

About the face-to-face interpreters

1. Interpreters are proficient in English, in the target language and have qualifications in Interpreting.
2. Interpreters are experienced in interpreting.
3. Interpreters interpret in the language and dialect in which they are registered.
4. Interpreters undergo continuing professional development in language skills development.
5. During an assignment, interpreters wear a Photographic ID badge provided by the Contactor.
6. Interpreters agree to a Code of Conduct, which includes confidentiality.
7. Interpreters must adhere to Safeguarding procedures.
8. Interpreters must adhere to Data Protection legislation.

The role of the Interpreter is to interpret everything spoken, in the language in which they are registered. The interpreter is an impartial participant in an interpreting meeting.

The Intercultural Education Service does not recommend asking pupils to interpret

Telephone interpreting services for the Education Authority Intercultural Education Service schools are currently provided by The Big Word Interpreting Services Ltd and LanguageLine Solutions.

About the telephone interpreters

1. Interpreters are proficient in English, in the target language and have qualifications in Interpreting.
2. Interpreters are experienced.
3. Interpreters interpret in the language and dialect in which they are registered.
4. Interpreters undergo continuing professional development in language skills development.
5. Interpreters agree to a Code of Conduct, which includes confidentiality.
6. Interpreters must adhere to Safeguarding procedures.
7. Interpreters must adhere to Data Protection legislation.

The role of the Interpreter is to interpret everything spoken, in the language in which they are registered. The interpreter is an impartial participant in the interpreting meeting.

Translation services for the Education Authority Intercultural Education Service schools are currently provided by The Big Word, Global Connections and Flex Language Services.

About the translators

1. Translators are proficient in English, in the target language and have qualifications in Translation.
2. Translators have extensive experience in Written Translation.
3. Translators undergo continuing professional development in language skills development.
4. Translators agree to a Code of Conduct, which includes confidentiality.
5. Translators must adhere to Data Protection legislation.
6. The Proofreader is the second Translator who proofreads the Written Translation and verifies its content.

The Intercultural Education Service does not recommend asking pupils to translate.

The Intercultural Education Service has produced a guidance document Updated IES Interpreting Guidelines April 2023, available below, to provide information to school principals and staff on how to book and pay for interpreting and translation for their school.

Current interpreting guidelines state that face-to-face and video interpreting can be used for:

• An ‘initial welcome’ meeting for new arrivals;
• Two parent / teacher meetings per pupil per year; (One of these may be an annual review organised by the school)
• Meetings to discuss pastoral issues such as behaviour, attendance or under-achievement;
• Meetings about transition to primary or post-primary school

Phone interpreting is currently funded by the Intercultural Education Service for:

• Urgent phone calls to parents / guardians regarding a critical incident;
• Follow up phone calls to clarify or request additional information from an initial ‘welcome meeting’;
• Phone calls to clarify information that has been misunderstood;
• Meetings via phone call because no face-to-face interpreter is available.
   

Information calls

• These are the phone-calls made to set up a face to face or video interpreting meeting with the Newcomer parents.

Flex Language Services has informed IES that they need to assign a £10 charge for confirmatory calls from now on.  These calls both gave parents the meeting details and confirmed their attendance at the school meeting. These information calls are no longer free.

Next Steps Options

1. Schools can still request that Flex makes an information call and pays their £10 charge directly.
2. Schools can use either telephone interpreting via the Big Word or Language Line Solutions or video calls via Flex.   
   
   This means a member of school staff must invite the parent on to the call via their land line or mobile phone.
                                  
3. Schools can use standard translated or visual letters to the Newcomer parents with the meeting details shown on the form.
4. Schools can avoid these confirmatory actions and manage the risk that the Newcomer parents may not attend the meeting.