Refugee and asylum seeker support - information for parents

Entitlement to compulsory education

Children/young people who are asylum seekers or refugees have the right to free education.  This includes young people of 16-19 years old who are entitled to attend school sixth forms or Further Education(FE) colleges.

School admission

Schools must by law treat any application from a child/young person seeking asylum in the same way as any other application.  The fact that the child/young person may speak little or no English does not matter.

Please see our parents section for information on how to apply for a school place for your child and an explanation about the English education system.

Free school meals

If your family has been issued with vouchers from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) then your child is entitled to free school meals (and milk, where provided).

School uniform

Schools may be able to provide you with some school uniform items for your child.

At the discretion of Hampshire Local Education Authority school uniform grants may be available.

At school

Please ask the school to obtain a bilingual dictionary for use in school.

If you have a problem or are worried about your child's education, please speak to the class-teacher or form tutor.

Continue to use your own language at home. Children who speak their first language well, will become better speakers and users of English. Talk to your child about the lessons. This may help your child to understand more.