What support and guidance is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities regarding the enrolment of Ukrainian refugee children into schools across Wales?
The Welsh Government’s School Admissions Code contains practical guidance and imposes requirements on local authorities and admission authorities regarding the discharge of their duties in respect of school admissions.
Local authorities are the admission authorities for community schools and voluntary controlled schools and the school governing body is the admission authority for voluntary aided and foundation schools. Admission authorities are responsible for admission arrangements, including oversubscription criteria.
In undertaking their school admission functions admission authorities must comply with the statutory School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code. Children coming to Wales from Ukraine are entitled to a school place. The School Admission Code applies to Ukrainian children as it does to all children.
Although there is no additional priority for admission of Ukrainian children, local authorities should provide advice to Ukrainian families on how to apply for school places and advise them which schools have places.
We have issued advice and frequently asked questions to local authorities and are working closely with them to monitor applications from Ukrainian families to identify any pressures on the availability of school places.