$2.7m funds for intensive English tuition for refugee children in NSW schools

Newly arrived refugees attending Catholic and independent schools will benefit from $2.7 million to fund intensive language tuition and other specialist support.

Education Minister Rob Stokes has announced the one-off funding over two years to assist non-government schools cater for the significant influx of refugees arriving under the humanitarian intake from Syria and Iraq.

"We listened to the concerns raised by the Catholic and independent school sectors about the need for additional resources and have responded," Mr Stokes said.

He said the significant refugee influx through the humanitarian intake impacts all education sectors. The money is additional to that allocated to public schools.

"The additional $2.7 million over two years for the Catholic and independent sectors complements the excellent work being undertaken by public schools particularly in western and south-western Sydney.

"This has included providing Intensive English and transition support for refugee students from the additional humanitarian intake from Syria and Iraq."

Currently there are more than 10,000 students from refugee backgrounds enrolled in NSW public schools, including 3300 in the past year.

The level of funding for non-government schools is based on the maximum State funding rate. Needs-based State and Commonwealth funding has additional loadings for students with low English language skills and socio-economic backgrounds.