A recent study has highlighted a significant issue facing migrant and refugee families in the UK, with many children being excluded from government-funded childcare due to their parents’ immigration status.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the human rights organisation Praxis, which advocates for migrants and refugees, have identified that approximately 71,000 families are ineligible for 30 hours of free childcare weekly due to “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) conditions.
This restriction is driving families into poverty and denying children critical early education opportunities.
The report notes that around 4 million individuals in the UK are affected by NRPF conditions, which prevent access to the social security system, including additional childcare support available through universal credit and tax-free options.
Although some families with NRPF can claim 15 hours of funded childcare for their three- and four-year-olds, and potentially for two-year-olds depending on income, they are barred from further financial assistance with childcare costs.
The consequences of these restrictions are profound. Shams Sarker, a skilled migrant from Bangladesh, shared his family’s struggles with balancing work and childcare, leading to reduced income and missed developmental opportunities for his UK-born daughter.
The study surveyed 159 parents under NRPF restrictions, revealing that while 55% managed to arrange some form of childcare, this is significantly lower than the 72% average across the general population.
Dr Lucy Mort, a senior research fellow at IPPR, criticised the policy for its detrimental effects on families and children, arguing that removing these barriers would greatly benefit disadvantaged communities and support working parents.
Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, from Praxis, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for a policy revision to ensure all children are adequately prepared for school.
A separate IPPR report also found a stark disparity in poverty rates among children of non-UK born parents, with almost half living in poverty, compared to 25% of children with UK-born parents. This report forecasts that without addressing these issues, the forthcoming child poverty strategy is likely to be ineffective.
In response, a Department for Education spokesperson outlined the government’s commitment to ensuring every child’s readiness for school by age five, mentioning a £15m investment to expand school-based nurseries.
They also reaffirmed the availability of 15 hours of funded childcare for eligible parents with NRPF, underscoring ongoing efforts to ensure fairness in access to government-funded childcare hours.
