We are calling for the government to always Plan for Service Children
Around 121,000 children in the UK have a parent serving in the Armed Forces and children can feel immense pride in having a parent in the Armed Forces.
The nature of the Armed Forces lifestyle, however, can present unique challenges.
Service children are significantly more likely to experience frequent school moves across the UK and overseas. Armed Forces families can also experience long periods of separation, which can include the operational deployment of the serving parent.
On top of this, the changes and uncertainty associated with the Armed Forces lifestyle can amplify the needs of Service children with special or additional educational needs or disabilities, who often benefit from stability.
The very different education systems across the four nations of the UK and countries overseas can impact considerably on mobile Service children with special or additional educational needs or disabilities. Even moves between local authorities can be far from straightforward.
The long waiting times for assessments mean that the process may not be completed ahead of a new assignment. Existing statutory plans and diagnoses are sometimes not accepted by new local authorities, with support not being replicated on moving.
Moreover, families often find a lack of understanding about their unique circumstances from schools and local authorities. In some cases, children miss months or even years of the support they need.
The Royal British Legion is asking Governments and local authorities throughout the UK to Plan for Service Children.
We are calling for:
- Packages of support for Children with Special or Additional Educational Needs or Disabilities to be transferrable across local authority and national boundaries.
- All local authorities to appoint a lead for Service children with the strategic responsibility for the experiences of Service children.
- National education departments to incorporate the unique needs of Service children and an awareness of other UK nations’ education systems into professional training and inspection frameworks.
How you can help
If you are from an Armed Forces family and you’ve been affected by a lack of support in the education system, we want to hear about your experiences. Share your story at [email protected]