Case Study: Supporting School Admissions for a Newly Settled Afghan Refugee Family
This case highlights the challenges that newly arrived refugee families often face due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with UK systems and timelines.
It also reflects the critical importance of community-based organisations like USPUK in helping refugees overcome administrative barriers and ensure their children are not left behind in education.
Case Study: Supporting School Admissions for a Newly Settled Afghan Refugee Family
Background:
Ms. Sameera (name changed for anonymity), a single Afghan mother and refugee, has been living in the UK with her two young children for the past two years. Since arriving, she has been receiving information and support from USPUK in areas such as Universal Credit, housing, and general settlement support.
The Challenge:
As Ms. Sameera focused on settling into life in the UK, she was unaware of key timelines related to school admissions. Her eldest child, a daughter was turning 4 before August 2025, which made them eligible to start Reception in September 2025. However, Ms. Sameera did not apply for a school place by the statutory deadline (which was in January 2025 for children turning 4 by August 2025).
In May 2025, during a casual conversation, someone asked whether she had applied for a school place. She responded that she would do so once the school term started, not knowing that applications should have been submitted months earlier. When she realised this oversight, she became extremely worried and approached USPUK for urgent support, concerned that her child might be left without a school place.
USPUK’s Response:
Our team at USPUK immediately reviewed both her individual circumstances and the Barnet Council school admissions policy. Fortunately, we found that the council allowed late applications under certain circumstances.
We took the following steps to support Ms. Sameera:
Personalised Support & Information Gathering
Since Ms. Sameera speaks limited English, our team provided tailored, language-sensitive assistance. We collected all necessary personal details and documents related to her child.
2. School Research
We reviewed nearby schools within her catchment area and identified those most suitable for her child.
3. Application Submission
An online admissions account was created on Ms. Sameera’s behalf using her email address. Our team submitted a late application for a Reception place in line with the council’s procedure.
4. Follow-Up and Confirmation
We ensured the application was submitted successfully and a confirmation email was received. Later, in June 2025, Ms. Sameera received two school offers in her local area.
5. Orientation & Next Steps
Ms. Sameera was supported in communicating with the schools. She attended orientation visits with her child, who is now set to begin school in September 2025.
Outcome:
Thanks to timely intervention and collaborative support from USPUK, Ms. Sameera’s child will start Reception on time despite the initial delay in applying. She expressed deep relief and gratitude for the assistance she received.
💬 Reflections
This case highlights the challenges that newly arrived refugee families often face due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with UK systems and timelines. It also reflects the critical importance of community-based organisations like USPUK in helping refugees overcome administrative barriers and ensure their children are not left behind in education.
At USPUK, we are committed to supporting refugee families with:
Access to education
Navigating local authority systems
Empowering parents with knowledge and confidence
We continue to work so that no child misses out on their right to education due to a lack of information.
Note: after application was completed, all data of Ms. Sameera has bee deleted for data protection.
Information Packs from USPUK
At USPUK, we provide detailed info packs on various topics for displaced people. We assist those coming to the UK through programs like ACRS and ARAP.
If you would like to get involved or if you would like to access our Information Packs, you can find out more on our website in the Get Help section.