Nursery World - Nurseries shut to refugee children

Children of asylum-seekers and refugees are missing out on nursery places, which could provide them with opportunities to settle in, feel safe and play which are unavailable in their home environments. In England, many children of asylum seekers and refugees in detention centres have no right to a pre-school place, and it is at the discretion of local education authorities whether they provide pre-school education for those living in the community. Central government does not allot any specific funding for the purpose.

In England, many children of asylum seekers and refugees in detention centres have no right to a pre-school place, and it is at the discretion of local education authorities whether they provide pre-school education for those living in the community. Central government does not allot any specific funding for the purpose.

A spokesman for Save the Children called for families to be given assistance. He said, 'These children have been through all manner of unspeakable suffering, and often don't have competent English. The sooner they can get into education here, the sooner they'll get the benefits. In the long term, this probably reduces the amount of special education they will need later on.'

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