Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he would issue guidance on the arrangements for supporting schools and other educational institutions that will be welcoming the children of Ukrainian refugees who have recently come to the UK as soon as possible.
Answered by Robin Walker
The department stands with Ukraine and continues to work across government to ensure we are supporting all Ukrainians entering the UK.
On the 1 April, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, wrote a letter to local chief executives and directors of children’s services. The letter confirms that all school-aged children and young people who arrive from Ukraine will have the right to access suitable education and childcare whilst in the UK. The letter can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secretary-of-state-letter-to-local-authorities-about-children-arriving-from-ukraine?utm_source=01%20April%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19
The Secretary of State has reminded local authorities that they are able to use flexibilities to admit above the published admission number and exceed the infant class size limit, as well as using the in-year Fair Access Protocol (FAP) to ensure all school-aged children can access suitable education. Guidance on the FAP can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1012993/FAP_Guidance.pdf
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published:
The department has also updated the guidance on school access rights for pupils from overseas, published here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/schools-admissions-applications-from-overseas-children?utm_source=01%20April%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19, and are adding some questions and answers to DLUHC’s Homes for Ukraine frequently asked questions page, published here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=01%20April%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19.
The above pieces of guidance were also communicated directly to local authorities on the 1 April 2022 via the department’s daily sector bulletin email.