Kent County Council’s (KCC) Refugee Resettlement Programme supports refugee families who have arrived in Kent through central government-funded schemes. These programmes are self-financing, using ring-fenced funding from central government and do not rely on direct financial support from KCC. This funding includes an allocation for education for children aged three to 18.
KCC coordinates the resettlement schemes across all districts in Kent, except Ashford and Canterbury, which manage their own programmes and some families in Dover. Our in-house Refugee Resettlement Team acts as the main liaison with government resettlement teams and key partner agencies.
Support for schools
If your school receives a child supported by one of the resettlement schemes, the Refugee Resettlement Team can offer guidance and support. Please note that this programme does not cover children who are part of the asylum process or who have received refugee status through that route. However, we can signpost to agencies that do support this cohort.
Support for individuals on the Homes for Ukraine scheme is coordinated separately by another team within KCC.
Role of the Refugee Council
KCC commissions the British Refugee Council to provide integration and casework support to families over a period of three to five years, depending on the scheme. This includes helping families find school places and supporting children as they settle into the UK education system. The Refugee Council offers day-to-day guidance to families and helps them build independence across all areas of life.
Education funding
Funding for children aged three to 18 is provided on a per capita basis to help cover educational costs. This is particularly important as school funding operates on a lagged system, based on the previous October Census. The Refugee Resettlement Team transfers this funding to KCC’s Education Finance Team, who then allocate it to the relevant local authority school or academy.
If your school anticipates costs that exceed the allocated funding, additional funds may be requested from the Home Office. These are considered on a case-by-case basis. School can email refugeeresettlement@kent.gov.uk to contact the Refugee Resettlement Team.
Understanding the needs of refugee children
Children are entitled to the same educational support as all UK pupils but may face a range of challenges.
- Many may have limited or no English and require additional language support.
- There may be gaps in prior education, meaning children could be behind their peers.
- Previous curricula may differ significantly from the UK system.
- Families may need help understanding the UK education system and legal school attendance requirements.
- Children may experience mental health challenges due to trauma, which can affect behaviour.
- Some children may have unidentified special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), which may not have been recognised in their country of origin.
Further guidance and workshops
The Refugee Resettlement Team is keen to work with schools to make sure they feel equipped to support resettled children. They offer:
- advice and connections to other agencies for children struggling with trauma, dysregulation, or cultural barriers
- free workshops for staff and pupils to raise awareness of refugee experiences and challenge common misconceptions about migration.
These sessions aim to promote understanding, tolerance, and cohesion within your school community.
Refugee Council – Helping resettled families feel at home
The Refugee Council in Kent supports families who have fled conflict and hardship and are starting new lives in the UK. The journey to safety is often long and emotional and adjusting to life in a new country can be overwhelming.
Our team helps families find stability, offering wraparound support including housing, English language learning, and connections to schools, services and community groups.
We are now reaching out to schools and educational providers to help bridge the gap and give children the opportunity to learn and thrive. Many children may have missed education while in transit or temporary accommodation.
By working together, we can help families not just resettle but truly feel at home in Kent.
Email lynda.langton@refugeecouncil.org.uk, Lynda Langton, Community Development Worker, Refugee Council.