Speaking about the new guidance, Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, said:
“Armed Forces families play a vital role in supporting our Service personnel to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad. Fittingly, this announcement coincides with the Month of the Military Child, which is a time to speak up for our Service children.
“Service children face many challenges due to the unique nature of Service life, but it’s important that they are able to benefit from their exceptional experiences.
“That’s why this joint guidance with the Department for Education, explains how we can break down barriers and help our Service children to thrive in education.”
Minister for Education, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Through our Plan for Change we are focused on breaking the link between young people’s background and their future success.
“Military families make a huge sacrifice for serving this country and their children face unique challenges that can impact their learning from family members being in active warzones, to frequently having to move schools.
“We provide a range of support for service families and their children to help break down the barriers they face. This includes additional funding for schools through the Service Pupil Premium, giving priority to service children in the admissions process and ensuring there is a school place for every service pupil returning to England from overseas bases. To build on this we have published new guidance for schools to help them to provide the targeted support service children need to achieve and thrive.”
What educational needs do Service pupils have?
Life as a Service child has unique challenges, which are not often recognised in wider society and is therefore not always reflected in an educational setting. Service pupils often move schools several times and experience family separation as their Service parent(s) are deployed. It is during these periods that Service children need extra support from local authorities and schools.
How will the new guidance help Service pupils?
This guidance brings together existing guidance into one, easily accessible, place. It outlines the support that schools and local authorities should provide to Service children, and signposts to useful resources.
This includes new guidance on the Service Pupil Premium, which recently announced more funding for schools to offer pastoral and academic support to eligible Service pupils as they move schools and cope with family separation.
It also encourages local authorities to appoint a Service pupil champion to provide individual support for Service children and outlines their responsibilities and duties.
This aligns with the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation that the Armed Forces Community should be treated fairly, and not be disadvantaged when accessing public and commercial services, with special provision provided, where appropriate.
Help schools and local authorities to support your child
Please read and share this new guidance with the below:
- school leaders, school staff, trust leaders, trust boards and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies, and non-maintained special schools in England
- local authorities in England
Useful information
Read the new non-statutory guidance on supporting Service pupils in schools.
Find out how you can celebrate the Month of the Military Child.
Visit Defence’s new Families Hub, which signposts the support, guidance and organisations that can help to navigate Service family life. The hub includes a section on education and childcare.