§ Linda GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to educate(a) children seeking asylum and (b) other children recently arrived in the UK separately from other children. [76140]
§ Mr. Stephen Twigg[holding answer 21 October]: All recently arrived children, whatever their immigration status, are given the same opportunities as all other children to access education. The Department has no plans to provide separate education for unaccompanied asylum seeker children or for the vast majority of other children recently arrived in the UK.
A minority of children whose families seek asylum and are destitute may be educated in accommodation centres which will provide a complete support package for the family, including education. This education will be of the same breadth and quality as that delivered in schools and will be specifically tailored to meet their particular needs. There will be also be intensive support provided to help them learn English and the education provision will be inspected by Ofsted.
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