Interpretation services

Norfolk County Council has been accessing interpreting and translation services through its partnership with INTRAN for 20 years. Under this partnership, schools can access quality, professional and experienced interpreting services while enjoying the benefits of best value by INTRAN using its bargaining power to get value for money services.

INTRAN provides:

• Face to face interpretation - This needs to be booked in advance and is recommended for meeting with parents, especially regarding PEP SEN, safeguarding issues and sensitive issues.
• Telephone interpretation - There is no need to pre-book an interpreter as it takes on average only 60 seconds to access an interpreter. This option can be used as a three-way service where people can be called in their homes when they are not with you. More information on using the Language Line telephone interpreting service is available as a downloadable PDF (PDF, 420 KB).
• A written translation service which enables school to have key letters, documents, and or examinations translated into a range of languages.

Benefits

The benefits for schools choosing to access interpreting and translation services are:

• Reduced risks, particularly in relation to safeguarding. Qualified interpreters adhere to strict confidentiality standards, ensuring sensitive information remains private.
• Equal and improved access to services for children and young people.
• Discussions with children and families to make decisions which benefit children and resolve concerns or challenges are fewer and more effective.
• Professional interpreters are trained not just in language but also in cultural contexts, which is crucial for effective communication, especially in diverse school environments.
• Children and young people (CYP) and parents are able to give consent and have full understanding of information provided.
• Savings in staff time and costs through INTRAN carrying out all procurement and ongoing contractual management of the contracts.
• INTRAN have quality control measures in place, ensuring that the translation or interpretation meets high standards and that there is an audit trail.

Norfolk County Council schools access to INTRAN

Norfolk County Council (NCC) has provided your school with access to INTRAN.

Costs

There is no membership fee, just a usage charge for each service listed above. This can be covered by:

• Your school's EAL funding - This is paid for pupils with English as an additional language (EAL) who have been in a school in England for 3 years or less. This is triggered in the October census and your school receives this funding in the school's allocated budget in April.
• Grants for refugee CYP - Your school is entitled to claim grants, paid over 3 terms, from PFAT (People from Aboard team) 
• Pupil Premium Plus for UASC - This is provided by the VS (Virtual School) for UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children)

To find out your school's INTRAN code

• Go to your school's MySchool section of the Norfolk Schools website and click on the new INTRAN link
• Contact the NCC Children's Services INTRAN champion on BusinessSupportHub@norfolk.gov.uk
• Email schoolintran@norfolk.gov.uk, or call 01603 223155 or 222094

Academies and Free Schools (non-LA schools) access to INTRAN

You are able to subscribe to INTRAN services for interpreting and translation and can secure membership at preferential rates.

Costs

There is a membership fee for a MAT or for individual academies. A MAT can cover the cost of 5 academies within a single subscription and then add on additional academies at discounted rates. There are also the usual usage charges for each service listed above. These can be covered by:

• Your school's EAL funding - This is paid for pupils with EAL who have been in a school in England for 3 years or less. This is triggered in the October census and your school receive this funding in the school's allocated budget in April.
• Grants for refugee CYP - Your school is entitled to claim grants, paid over 3 terms, from PFAT (People from Aboard team) 
• Pupil Premium Plus for UASC - This is provided by the VS (Virtual School) for UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children)

To take up membership

• Contact your MAT or Academy Trust to join their existing subscription, if they have INTRAN membership already.
• Contact intran@norfolk.gov.uk to arrange membership to INTRAN for your MAT or academy as advocated by Norfolk Country Council's Children's Services.

Contact number

For further support with interpretation and EAL provision, please contact the Family and Professional Helpline - 03333 137165.