The Dutch primary schools’ association has urged the government to earmark more money for organising lessons for refugee children.

Schools are given cash to pay for language lessons and to bring children up to speed but this is only for the first year they are in the Netherlands. ‘But the disadvantages cannot be removed in a single year,’ the PO council said in its appeal.

Schools are also faced with extra costs because many of the children are dealing with traumas, a spokesman said.

Secondary schools get extra money for two years for each refugee pupil.