Education for Asylum Seeker Children in the UK

The Right to Education

Department for Education guidance on school applications for foreign national children says that “children who have been recognised as refugees and asylum seeking children (including dependant children of an asylum seeker) in the UK who are still awaiting a decision, are entitled to access a school-based education”, and that “the outcome of their claim will not affect their entitlement to attend school”.

The same guidance sets two limits on admission authorities:

• They “must not refuse to admit a child on the basis of their nationality or immigration status nor remove them from the roll on this basis”.
• They “must not ask to see passports or other immigration information as a condition of admission”. Doing so breaches paragraphs 1.9(a) and 2.8 of the School Admissions Code.

It adds that an application “should be processed whether or not the family is able to provide a permanent address”. That matters for a family in asylum accommodation that expects to be moved.

On leaving age, GOV.UK says a young person in England can leave school on the last Friday in June if they will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays, and must then stay in some form of education or training until 18 — full-time education, an apprenticeship, or 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while in part-time education or training. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set the date differently.

Finding a School Place

To find a school place for your child:

1. Contact your local council. The council has a legal duty to help you find a school place. If you are in asylum accommodation, contact the council for the area where you are living.
2. Apply directly to schools. You can also approach local schools directly. Use the GOV.UK school finder to search for schools near you.
3. Provide basic information. The child's date of birth and the family's current address. Under the guidance above, immigration documents cannot be required as a condition of admission, and a permanent address is not needed for the application to be processed.

An application made outside the normal admission round is called an in-year application, and it goes through the local council in the same way. If no place is available at the schools applied for, the council is the body to go back to.

Free School Meals

In England, GOV.UK lists “support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999” — asylum support — among the benefits that qualify a child for free school meals. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at a government-funded school in England get infant free school meals whatever the household receives. To claim on the asylum support route:

• Tell the school that you receive asylum support
• Provide your asylum support reference number or a letter from the Home Office confirming your asylum support
• The school or the local council arranges the meals

GOV.UK also says that a family with no recourse to public funds should ask their school or local authority whether they are eligible, because eligibility can still apply.

See our free school meals guide for more on eligibility across different visa types.

English Language Support

Many children arriving in the UK will need help with English. Schools are required to support children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). This support may include:

• Specialist EAL teachers or teaching assistants
• Small group language sessions
• Bilingual support staff or interpreters
• Adapted teaching materials

A child cannot be refused a place because they do not speak English: the admission rules above do not allow it.

Special Educational Needs

A child with special educational needs or a disability has the same rights as any other child. The school assesses their needs and puts support in place. Where an education, health and care plan is needed, the council carries out the assessment. Nothing in the special educational needs system turns on immigration status.

See our SEN support guide for detailed information.

Early Years (Under 5)

GOV.UK says “all 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year”, usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks. That entitlement is not tied to what the household receives.

For 2-year-olds there is a separate 15-hour entitlement, and GOV.UK publishes a route for families who cannot claim benefits: “If your immigration status says you cannot claim benefits, you may still get free childcare for your 2 year old.” The income limits it gives are £26,500 a year after tax outside London with one child, £34,500 in London with one child, £30,600 outside London with two or more children and £38,600 in London with two or more children, with no more than £16,000 in savings or investments. The council arranges the place.

Education for 16 to 18 Year Olds

Young people aged 16 to 18 can continue in education. They can:

• Stay at school for sixth form (Years 12 and 13)
• Attend a further education college
• Take an apprenticeship (if they have the right to work)

Education at a state-funded school or a further education college in England is free for 16 to 18 year olds. Colleges set their own enrolment paperwork, which is separate from the school admission rules above.

Higher Education (University)

Anyone can apply to a university. Two separate questions then decide the cost: the fee status the university gives, and whether student finance is available.

GOV.UK does not publish a list of qualifying immigration statuses on its student finance pages. It says to “use the undergraduate student finance checker to find out the type of help you can get depending on your nationality and residency status”. That checker is the authoritative answer for an individual case, and this guide will not guess at it.

Fee status is set by each university under the fees and awards regulations, not by the Home Office, so it is worth asking the university admissions office directly. Some universities publish scholarships or fee waivers for people seeking asylum. Refugee Education UK and STAR (Student Action for Refugees) publish information about them.

Practical Tips

• Enrol early. Contact schools as soon as you arrive in your asylum accommodation area.
• School uniform. If you cannot afford school uniform, ask the school about their hardship fund or contact local charities for help.
• Transport. If the school is far from your accommodation, the council may provide free transport. Ask the council about home-to-school transport.
• Healthcare at school. School nurses can help with health checks and vaccinations. See our NHS access for asylum seekers guide.
• Mental health. Children who have experienced trauma may need additional support. Schools can refer to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). See our mental health guide.

If Your Asylum Claim Is Refused

Department for Education guidance says “the outcome of their claim will not affect their entitlement to attend school”. So a refusal does not by itself end a child's school place while the family is in the UK.

Further Resources

For official guidance on school admissions, visit GOV.UK school admissions and the Department for Education guidance on applications from foreign national children. For information on legal aid for asylum seekers, see our dedicated guide.

Related guides:

• UK asylum process explained
• Asylum support in the UK
• School places for visa holders
• UK education system guide

Questions and answers