EDUCATION
In the Interests of Service Children
The Directorate Children and Young People has been recently established as the MoD lead for Service children and young people. It’s job, to ensure every Service child, wherever he or she is living in the world, has the best possible opportunity to achieve their full potential and to represent Service children’s needs at the highest level across all Government Departments and Devolved Administrations. Here Bridget Dawson explains more.
T
his new Directorate is headed by Lynda Fisher, a 2-star who has a wealth of experience in the children’s
services arena. Within her team key staff appointments include Safeguarding, Policy, Commissioning and Communications to tackle the key areas of Service children’s lives they wish to concentrate on. These are:
• Dealing with upheaval caused by frequent moves of home and school;
• Dealing with temporary separation caused by operational deployment of a parent, close family member or friend;
• Promoting and supporting healthy lifestyles;
• Providing inspirational and exciting learning and play activities that ensure Service children and young people raise their expectations and achieve at the highest possible levels;
• Ensuring all Service children and young people are supported and protected and that they feel safe;
• Providing opportunities for Service children and young people to have their voices heard and have a say in shaping the opportunities and services available to them;
• Providing access learning pathways so Service young people are able to meet the challenges of adulthood and enter the world of work.
The MoD commission an annual survey known as ‘Your Say’ which is anonymous and open to all MOD staff. The responses to the 2010 survey are of particular interest to DCYP as they relate directly to some of
22 Envoy Autumn 2011
their priority areas. For example, the survey highlighted concerns across the Services population about the upset, upheaval and sometimes emotional impact caused by frequent moves of home and school as well as separation caused by frequent operational deployments.
These sorts of issues are very much on the DCYP radar and, for example, a key priority within our Children’s Plan is supporting children during times of upheaval and change. This priority area is led by Mrs Olivia Denson who also heads up the Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS), which sits within DCYP, and provides support, information and advice about all aspects of education for Service children, particularly when a posting, for example, necessitates changes to Service children’s educational requirements.
Parents facing a move who are concerned about the impact on their children’s education should contact CEAS before the move for
advice. CEAS produce a useful booklet entitled ‘Moving Schools’ aimed at primary school children and geared towards helping the children to think about and prepare for their forthcoming move. CEAS can be contacted on 01980 618244 or their website at http://
www.ceas.mod.uk
Another area of concern in the Your Say survey touched on the need for better liaison between the services provided abroad and schools back in UK where Service children move to. Again, this is an area which DCYP is very closely focused on at the moment.
Service Children in State Schools (SCISS) is a group of representatives from over 800 state schools in England which serve military communities, local authorities, DfE, SCE and CEAS, and played a significant role in persuading Ministers to provide additional funds (the Service children’s Pupil Premium).
DCYP recently commissioned Ofsted to look closely at the impact of the partnerships and support for Service children. The Ofsted Report, which was published in May 11, recognised the strengths of the partnership working between schools and Commands overseas, Service Children’s Education (SCE) Pupil and Family Services, CEAS and local authorities and schools in the UK. Again, DCYP will continue to work closely with all partners in implementing the key recommendations of the Ofsted Report. The Report can be found at:
www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Please visit the DCYP website at
www.mod. uk/ChildrenAndYoungPeople for further information about what we do on behalf of all Service children and young people.
If anyone wishes to submit a comment or specific questions please email us at: LF-PSC-CYP-(Mailbox)(MULTIUSER)
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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