Unaccompanied Children
Unaccompanied children are:
- young people under 18 years old
- have travelled to the UK without a parent or guardian
facing many risks during what can sometimes be a long and often dangerous journey that can take months, sometimes years.
Unaccompanied refugee or asylum-seeking children are a particularly vulnerable group.
They have an increased risk of experiencing traumatic life events such as:
- conflict-related violence
- physical and sexual abuse
- loss of a close relative or carer.
Living without parents increases the risks of homesickness, anxiety about family still in their home country, trauma and anger over the lack of control in their lives. They may have little or no financial support. There can be difficulties with language and communication which also affects education.
The funding available for unaccompanied children differs depending on whether they arrived claiming asylum or via a formal route e.g. Homes for Ukraine, but statutory duties will still apply. This is detailed below.
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children are typically minors under the age of 18 when they arrive in the UK. From the moment they are identified, UASC are considered ‘looked after’ children and receive a range of services which includes housing, education, health care and emotional support.
Once UASC reach 18, they become care leavers and continue to receive assistance until at least the age of 21 and in sometimes up to 25, depending on their needs, in the same way that UK-born care leavers do.
The aim is to ensure that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are supported through a smooth transition from being looked after children to being independent adults.
Case Study: Access to education, employment and training for UASC in Gloucestershire
Within 20 working days of arrival in Gloucestershire, all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have a Personal Education Plan meeting, with the aim to have them enrolled and attending school within six weeks of coming into care. Gloucestershire also cares for post-16 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
The Virtual School offers on-going support to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to access school or college. These young people often arrive with very high educational aspirations, having missed formal education during their journey, and are highly motivated to learn. They are eager to integrate with their community and make friends. Their adverse experiences have generally made them resourceful and resilient, often with skills beyond their years, speaking many languages and keen to share this with others.
Challenges:
- Schools are not always able to offer specialist provision to fit their needs.
- Lack of provision in further education colleges in Gloucestershire for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
- Provision runs from September to July – mid-year arrivals may miss months of education.
Solutions:
- The Virtual School provides laptops to access online learning while they wait.
- Training providers such as Bridge Training and Prospect Training have developed specific courses to fill these gaps, offering a Roll On, Roll Off programme.
- The Virtual School has developed training to support schools and colleges to improve their understanding.
Unaccompanied Children on the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Unaccompanied children arriving under the Homes for Ukraine scheme enter into a private fostering arrangement with their sponsor, who is already known to their parents. This support is known as the Unaccompanied Minor (UAM) process.
Under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Gloucestershire has welcomed 16 unaccompanied minors since the pathway was created in July 2022.
The access to education team ensures the children are in school and receiving the appropriate support with lessons, language and inclusion. Schools are encouraged to provide documentation and resources in Ukrainian, Russian and English and some schools have appointed teaching assistants who can interpret.
Some of the children have returned to their parents in Ukraine. However, of the seven former unaccompanied minors who are now 18 and over, three have moved into higher education and four into further education. They continue to be supported by their hosts who provide stability and a home to return to during university holidays. The students were all given a £200 voucher towards the expenses incurred by going to university such as bedding and cooking equipment.