Supporting Service Children
There are nearly 600 Service children across over 100 schools in Northumberland
What is the Service Pupil Premium?
The Department for Education (DfE) introduced the Service Pupil Premium (SPP) in April 2011 in recognition of the specific challenges children from Service families face and as part of the commitment to delivering the armed forces covenant.
State schools, academies and free schools in England, which have children of Service families in school years reception to year 11, can receive the SPP funding. It is designed to assist the school in providing the additional support that these children may need and is currently worth £335 per Service child who meets the eligibility criteria.
The Service Pupil Support Programme
MOD funding is available to schools via the Service Pupil Support Programme. This fund is managed on behalf of the MOD by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund. Schools are invited to bid for up to £150,000 to support the outcomes of Service pupils. Funding is made available for projects of up to 2 years in duration. The fund is particularly interested in initiatives which seek to address one or more of the following 4 themes.
- Closing the attainment gap between Service and non-service pupils
- Address the needs of Service pupils with SEND
- Address the impact of mobility, deployment and separation on service pupil’s education
- Address the needs of Service pupils in schools with low numbers of Service pupils
The application deadline is midday on Wednesday 30 April 2025, with applicants receiving a decision on the outcome of their bid before the end of June 2025.
Further details, including guidance documents via the link below:
The Early Years Programme
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has recently released the Early Years Programme.
This provides early learning and childcare settings with opportunity to bid for funding between £5,000 and £80,000. The fund is designed to support settings meet the specific needs of children under the age of 5 from armed forces families.
Applications will be accepted across two rounds in 2025/26, the first of which closes at 12 noon on 4 June.
Further details, including guidance documents via the link below:
What is Month of the Military Child?
The Month of the Military Child (MotMC), in April, is a campaign to raise awareness about the important role Service children play in the Armed Forces community. It is a time to recognise Armed Forces families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.
The Armed Forces Family Hub
The Families Hub is an online information portal that signposts to support, organisations, policies and guidance, to help navigate Service family life (both in the UK and when on overseas assignment). The online platform covers areas such as education, childcare, health and wellbeing, housing, partner support and finance.
The aim of the Hub is to show the Service community, particularly families, what information, guidance and support is available, to enable them to make informed decisions.
Further details via the link below:
Further Information
For further support please contact Jane Kennedy - School Improvement Lead (Disadvantage)