Driving local and transnational policy change in refugee education
Refugee Education UK has been working with Professor Joanna McIntyre at the University of Nottingham to influence policy change around refugee education. As part of this work, we contributed to the development of reports and policy briefs on two key topics that are often overlooked in the field of refugee education: early childhood education and care (ECEC), and inclusive education for refugees with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
ECEC for refugee children
Inclusive, high-quality ECEC offers important benefits to young children who have experienced forced displacement, and to their families, parents and caregivers. Yet, numerous policy-related, practical and legal barriers limit access to ECEC for displaced children. The report examines existing evidence on ECEC for refugee children in Europe, and provides recommendations for practitioners, policymakers and researchers.
The educational inclusion of refugees with disabilities
Refugee children with SEND are often overlooked in research, policy and practice and practice. The research sheds light on this critical issue, calling for a more inclusive, intersectional approach to ensure refugee learners with disabilities receive the support they need to thrive in education.
Together with Professor Joanna McIntyre, we convened a roundtable event in parliament in May 2025 on the intersections of refugee education and SEND. You can read a briefing synthesising insights and recommendations from the roundtable below.