If you are part of the Armed Forces Community, which includes Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force and have a child with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) there are additional rights, provisions and funding available to you as we recognise that Service Children across Surrey do face additional challenges in relation to education. For example, you are likely to move locations frequently needing to change schools and routine, educational progress and social relationships may be disrupted, including trusted support networks. A parent could be away for significant periods of up to 12 months on tour, often with limited contact, which is unsettling to their service children. There is also an increased risk of your child experiencing loss and trauma relating to their parent's front-line service role.
This advice sets out ways to mitigate some the disadvantages faced and outline the roles and responsibilities of the Local Authority.
The Ministry of Defence define Service Children as 'those (including adopted children) under the age of 18, who are children of Service members or Service partners – including both serving and veteran families – and any other children under the age of 18 that are otherwise the responsibility of Service members or Service partners.'
The Service Children criteria includes:
- One of their parents is serving in the regular armed forces: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force,
- One parent is on full commitment as part of the full-time reserve service (FTRS).
- They have been registered as a service child on a school census in the past 6 years and in receipt of the Service Pupil Premium regardless of if their family member is now a veteran.
- One of their parents died while serving in the armed forces and the spouse, partner or in some cases the pupil receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme.
- One of their parents is in the armed forces of another nation and is stationed in England.
- Stepchild of serving personnel whom they live with.
Surrey has a number of Military bases and Service Family Accommodation housing where Service Children reside both within and bordering our county borders. These include Sandhurst, Pirbright, Camberley, Aldershot, Deepcut, Ash, Redhill and Woking. If your child has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) or is under assessment and you have been notified of a move to Surrey you should inform the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) service in your existing area, and in Surrey, to prepare for the transfer. You may find it helpful to refer to Moving to Surrey. It may also be helpful to make Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) who act on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, aware of the change in local authority so they can support special education provision being made as soon as your child arrives in Surrey. They can be contacted via email: RC-DCS-HQ-CEAS@mod.gov.uk.
If you have a confirmed posting or are returning from overseas and have an EHCP, the Special Educational Needs (SEN) team will allocate a school place, as long as there is one available, in advance of your arrival in Surrey. This is on the proviso your application is accompanied by an official letter that declares a confirmed relocation date together with evidence of intended future living address. In the interim, the Regimental HQ Address will suffice. If your child or young person is under statutory Education Health Care Needs (EHCN) assessment process or a request to assess Special Educational Needs has been submitted, you will need to contact Surrey schools admission
Special Educational Needs educational arrangements may differ in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and use different terminology. This chart summarises the differences:
| Wales | England | Scotland | Northern Ireland | MoD Schools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is it called? | Addtional Learning Needs (ALN) | Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) | Additonal Support Needs or Support for Learning (ASN) | Special Educational Needs (SEN) | Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) |
| Who should I turn to? | Addtional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo) | SEND Coordinator (SENDCo) Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) Additional Education Needs Coordinator (AENCo) Inclusion Manager | Principle teacher for ASN Guidance Teacher | SENCo | SENDCo SENCo |
| Which plan? | Individual Development Plan (IDP) | Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) | Coordinated Support Plan (CSP) | Statement of SEN | Record of Intervention,. Assessment and Intervention of Special. Educational Needs (RIAISEN) MoD Service Child Assessment of Need (SCAN) |
If you are moving whilst your child is being assessed for an EHCP, the local authority will also seek advice from the Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) who act on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence. They can be contacted via email: RC-DCS-HQ-CEAS@mod.gov.uk.
If you are moving and consider your child may have a specific need, first refer to: information about specific types of Special Educational Need. Our What to do if you think your child has Additional Needs or Disabilities? page includes information on who to contact should you have any concerns about your child's learning or development and how you can progress your concerns.
- parental rights and responsibilities
- children or young people's rights and responsibilities
- special educational needs and/or disability
- school admissions and appeals - More information is available here: Education in the UK for service children
- consideration of boarding schools for continuity of education
- Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) and The Special Educational Needs Addition (SENA)
- overseas education and supportability in non-MOD school areas
- retention of Service Family Accommodation for educational purposes
The Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) provides advice, support and guidance regarding the educational wellbeing of children and young people belonging to families of service families. It acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence. The team is comprised of qualified teachers and experienced case officers. All advice given is impartial, child-centred and focused on the best interests of the individual. It covers a wide range of issues including:
Local Authorities have a duty to work with each other and CEAS so that special education provision can be made as soon as a child arrives in a new authority, when carrying out an assessment of a Service child's needs or making an EHC plan.
Service Pupil Premium
Service personnel with children in state schools (reception age to year 11) should notify schools of their children or young person's service status so they are recorded in their census to qualify for Service Pupil Premium (SPP). The current funding of £340 per service child helps schools provide pastoral support to service children during challenging times and to help mitigate the negative impact of family mobility, separation or parental deployment.
SPP and standard Pupil Premium can be claimed for the same child if eligible for both. Pupil Premium applies if a child is entitled to free school meals or is a previously Looked After child.
Department of Education's 'ever 6 service child measure' extends the SPP so that any pupil in reception to Year 11 who has been flagged as a Service Child in the last 6 years will continue to receive the premium.
This measure applies to children whose parent(s) have left the armed forces, provided the student was recorded as being a Service Child in a school census prior to their parent(s) leaving the forces. The ever measure also applies when Service parents' divorce or separate, or when a Service parent dies in Service. Read the full eligibility criteria and further detail of the 'ever 6 service child measure'.
Wraparound Childcare
- In recognition of the issues that some Service families face when trying to access wraparound childcare and its potential negative impact on retention, the Secretary of State for Defence launched the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme.
- Eligible Service personnel can register for up to 20 hours a week per child during term time only (39 weeks per year) of wraparound childcare funding for 4 to 11 year old children (4 to 16 years if in receipt of certain disability benefits) attending before and after school childcare in the UK.
- Read the full eligibility criteria for wraparound childcare. This also summarises other Government childcare benefits available such as Tax Free Childcare (TFC)
Education Advisory Team (UK)
The Education Advisory Team (EAT) UK, provide professional information, advice and guidance regarding the education of Service Children in the UK. It forms part of the Defence Children Services (DCS).
EAT also provide advice and guidance for service personnel and eligible Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilians regarding education and education-related issues. Such as retention of Service Family Accommodation, the Continuity of Education Allowance & the Special Educational Needs Addition, Special Educational Needs and School Admissions.
You can contact EAT at RC-DCS-HQ-EAT@mod.gov.uk.
Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST)
The Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST) is also part of the Defence Children Services (DCS). It provides professional information, advice and guidance for service personal and eligible MOD civilians regarding the education of their children in overseas locations. OEST also provides educational advice and support for overseas commands and DCS schools and settings.
This team coordinates the educational supportability assessment process for overseas postings, in respect of children with Special Educational Needs and those for whom parents have selected Elective Home Education.
You can contact the OEST at RC-DCS-HQ-OES@mod.gov.uk.
Each of these teams consist of qualified professional Education Advisers, Team Advisers and administrators.
Further Information
The Armed Forces Covenant
- The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
- The Covenant Legal Duty is a legal obligation on certain public bodies (including local authorities, governing bodies of certain state schools, various NHS bodies, and other organisations) to have due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when carrying out certain functions in healthcare, education and housing. For example, Local Authorities must highlight the young person as a SEN Service Child when submitting their case to panel to ensure when commissioning services for children and young people with SEN, they take account, with their partners (for example, Health and Social Care), of the particular needs of any Service communities and consider the likely impact on the child's needs and the provision made to meet them of any relevant Service-related issue.
- Visit the Armed Forces Covenant to learn more
- Visit armed forces to see how Surrey County Council is supporting the Covenant.
Ministry of Defence Local Authority Partnership
Surrey County Council is part of The Ministry of Defence Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP). This is a partnership between the MOD and 16 English local authorities that have committed to work together to improve the experience and outcomes of children of UK Armed Forces families. The local authority membership of MODLAP represent those authority areas with the highest numbers of service children in England.
You may find the following services helpful.
Service Children Charities
There are numerous voluntary support networks available to Service Children and their families within the national community. Some charities offer support resources to schools and some even have therapy offers available to young people. Below is to name just a few:
Support for service people
- The Army Families Federation (AFF) is an independent voice for Service personnel and their families. It aims to improve the quality of life for the Army family, wherever they are in the world. AFF is independent of the Army and offers confidential advice.
- The Naval Families Federation (NFF) supports Royal Navy and Royal Marine serving personal and their families to navigate both serving and civilian life challenges
- The Royal Air Force Families Federation (RAF -FF) which provides information, guidance and guidance for RAF personal and their families
- The Armed Forces page of the Surrey County Council website has detailed information including details of Veterans' Hubs, and support for Surrey's armed forces community.
- Forces Connect is a free UK-wide mobile app that signposts members of the armed forces community to local and national support and advice. You can download it by searching Forces Connect in the Apple app or Google Play store.
Additional needs and Disability specific support services:
- Action for Carers supports carers of all ages across Surrey by providing advice and support. The support they offer can be by phone, through face-to face meetings, support groups and workshops. They also provide benefits advice, advocacy, give practical guidance on moving and handling, and provide a wealth of information and free resources.
- SEND Advice Surrey offer impartial, confidential, free advice and support throughout the EHC assessment and planning process.
- Independent Providers of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) offer an information service that provides information on the law relating to special educational needs and disability.
- Contact offer a free helpline with education specialist advisors who can advise you on any aspect of your child's education.
Ask the Local Offer:
You can also find a large amount of further support services and leisure activities on our Family Information Service Directory.
We offer an enquiry service, so if you can't find what you are looking for or would like us to help with your search email: localoffer@surreycc.gov.uk
