Military parents in England have until 2 October to make sure their children’s school knows about their Service status.
All schools in England must compete a census on this date and the information decides what Service Pupil Premium funding schools are given to provide support for Forces children at school.
SPP offers £350 per Service pupil to mitigate the impact of mobility, separation and deployments, mainly through pastoral care.
Schools decide how the money is spent and the grant is used to support all Service children on roll. That includes those who arrive after the census date.
AFF’s Education & Childcare Specialist Anna Hutchinson encouraged families who have recently moved to or within England to tell their new school about their child’s status.
She said: “This information can get lost as your children move between schools and education phases.”
Who can be supported?
Pupils from reception to Year 11 in England are eligible if one of their parents is serving in the regular Armed Forces. Children of those on full commitment as part of the Full-Time Reserve Service also count.
Pupils are also eligible if they have been registered as a Service child on a school census in the past six years.
The criteria includes pupils whose parent has died while serving and who receives an Armed Forces Compensation or War Pension.
Children who have parents in the military of another nation and who are stationed in England are also eligible.
Find out more
More detailed information and a full list of criteria is available on our education and childcare pages. There is guidance to help state-funded schools and local authorities to understand the needs of pupils from Service families.
The devolved nations have different methods of providing support for Forces children at school. You can find details about funding in the Primary and Secondary section.
PUBLISHED ON 26 SEPTEMBER