Service Pupil Premium Extended

It has been announced that the Service Pupil Premium is being extended to state-maintained schools in England. Children of military personnel who have died in service will be eligible and children of military personnel will continue to qualify up to six year after their parents have left the Armed Forces. The amount paid to schools for each eligible child will increase to £300 in 2013-14. Let the school know by 17 Jan 13...More information »

Policy Change to the Residential Support Scheme

The Residential Support Scheme provides help with the accommodation costs of learners aged 16 and over, who need to live away from home to study because their course is not available locally. The MoD have worked with the Young People Learning Agency and the Department for Education to address an existing unfairness for those serving overseas and have now secured an agreement to make them eligible for RSS...More information »

Irritation at CEA is posted on Facebook

A member of Facebook has posted a piece on the RAF Families Federation wall on the subject of CEA. It reads: "I am disgusted with the RAF at the moment and the whole boarding school allowance! Looks like they are trying to take it off all ground crew so its now turning it into a them and us allowance! In the process they are putting stress on families especially those who have had to take there child out of boarding... Chairman of the RAF FF, Dawn McCafferty responds, in part Dawn agrees by saying "Whilst the perceived lack of future mobility undermines an on-going entitlement to CEA, to remove a child who has already settled into a boarding environment when the serving parents were previously assessed as mobile, is to jeopardise the very continuity of education the allowance was supposed to deliver ...More information »

CEA Review Announced

The long awaited Review into Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) was announced today. While the principles of the allowance remain the same there is a new restriction on the age range of eligible children and claims for Year 12 and 13 children who have not previously been in continuous receipt of CEA will no longer be permitted...More information »

CEA Review Announcement - TOMORROW

The long awaited Review into Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is expected to be made tomorrow - Thu 13 Oct 11. It will be delivered as a written Parliamentary Statement. This Review follows the changes made to the CEA rules in Dec 10 and has been awaited for some time. As soon as we know the detail we will publish it on the site...More information »

"Some Good Practise"

In the third Ofsted report on the effectiveness of welfare and duty of care for recruits and trainees in Armed Forces grades of 'satisfactory' or better with examples of good practise have been awarded. Andrew Robathan said: "There is clearly room for improvement. Resourcing and operational requirements continue to impact on the Armed Forces and the training environment is not exempt from these pressures...More information »

Does your Child's School know about the £3 million?

The SoS for Defence has announced a £3M fund to assist schools, with children whose parents are in the Armed Forces to help mitigate the impact of increased mobility, unit moves or the effects of deployments. The Fund is separate and additional to the Pupil Premium. HQs, Units and Service parents are being urged to ensure that the schools in their area are aware of the fund and to make a bid if approriate...More information »

CEA Review Announcement Expected

It now seems likely that Ministers will be announcing the conclusions of the review into the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) next Tue 28 Jun, by means of a Written Parliamentary Statement. We will bring you more up-to-date news as we receive it... 

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'Through the Eyes of a Service Child'

A competition for all children whose parents are members of HM Forces has been launched by the The Service Children Support Network. Children are invited to submit a painting or drawing that reflects life ‘Through the eyes of a Service Child’. There are several age groups with prizes being awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category. The closing date is 1 Jun 11... 

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New Website focusing on the Education of Service Children

SCSN is the Service Children Support Network. It is a group of education and welfare professionals working in collaboration with members of the military community. The aim is to encourage and facilitate the provision of high-quality support to Service Children. Why? Because SCSN believe the specific needs of Service Children and their families are frequently overlooked... 

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BEWARE CEA Survey...

Service personnel who are in receipt of CEA and a random selection of non-claimants have been asked to complete a questionnaire on the allowance. The survey originates from an independent organisation feeding the current review on CEA. The Federation has had sight of the survey and considers it to include leading questions and are keen to hear the views of those who have been asked to complete it...More information »

Quick Vote - Pupil Premium

Have you registered your child for the Pupil Premium at school (It is worth £200)? Closing date 20 Jan 11.


Quick Vote and Pupil Premium article

Do You Know about the Pupil Premium?

From Sep 11 schools will receive an additional sum of £200 for every Service child on their roll. This payment is in recognition of the unique challenges and stresses facing service children. The trigger for this payment to schools however, will be taken from the roll from the Annual School Census of January 2011. So please, ensure the school is aware of your child's Service connection...

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The Rules Change for 'Boarding School Allowance'

Changes to the Continuity of Education Allowance (Board) (CEA) have been announced by Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey. The allowance is paid to ensure that the children of mobile service families receive a continuous education. Rates have not been cut but there are changes to the eligibility rules. Those in receipt of CEA will retain the support as long as they meet the new rules. The new rules come into effect on 1 Apr 11...More information »

Guardian Report on Service Children

The Guardian has featured an article on Service Children with a parent away in Afghanistan over Christmas. Dawn McCafferty, Chairman of the RAF Families Federation, spoke to the reporter and is quoted, "It is a huge decision to send your child as young as eight to boarding school and one that is not made easily. Parents who decide to do this are trying to protect their children from the impact of mobility...More information »