EDUCATION
Voluntary Withdrawal from CEA (NEW) The ability to voluntarily withdraw from CEA without financial penalty has already been implemented; this amendment formalises that policy change.
Maternity Leave Currently, if a CEA claimant takes Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML) then elects to take Additional Maternity Leave (AML) they are required to submit casework for ongoing entitlement to CEA. Under the revised regulations, the requirement to submit casework is removed.
CEA Eligibility Certificate – Part 1C (Claimant Certification) When signing the CEA EC, the claimant is now authorising the CEAGT to approach their child’s school (if necessary) to confirm the eligibility criteria are being met.
CEA EC Guidance Even though the Assignment Authority has assessed the claimant as ‘unlikely to move’ within 4 years or the claimant’s family home has not moved in excess of 50 miles within the last two assignments, it is for the CO to confirm eligibility taking relevant circumstances into account. The location of the family home is not relevant within the context of the CEA eligibility criteria but it is a circumstance that the COs must use to inform their decision when doubt exists over the claimant’s eligibility.
Reasons for Changing a School during a Stage of Education that may be acceptable (09.0123a) As a result of the introduction of Voluntary Withdrawal from CEA (paragraph above), this annex is now restricted to circumstances where the claimant wishes to withdraw their child from a particular school but continue claiming CEA at an alternative eligible school.
Day School Allowance (North Wales) (DSA(NW)) Entitlement for a Child Assessed as having Special Educational Needs (SEN). The DSA(NW) regulations now allow for the payment of SENA ‘Non Specialist Independent’ (NSI) and ‘Dyslexia Unit’ (DU) costs subject to the claimant and their child meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
Accompanied Service Guidance Accompanied service exists when a Service person maintains a home in which their spouse/ civil partner and any dependent children normally live; this remains the case. Currently the further guidance on accompanied service requires that a service person’s family is required only to spend ‘…a clear majority of the assignment…’ at the Residence at Work Address (RWA). The intent of the policy is that the Service Person is to be accompanied by their spouse/civil partner
at their RWA more often than not in any given period for the duration of the assignment. An amendment prepared in tandem with the re- write of CEA policy establishes that where the family spends less than 9 months (continuous or aggregated) in any 12 month period at the RWA the Service Person’s accompanied status will be subject to review by the CO. Similarly, if a Service person’s spouse/civil partner is absent from the RWA for a period in excess of 90 consecutive days, their accompanied status will be reviewed.
Guidance on INVOLSEP Service Currently the guidance on INVOLSEP states that where a CEA claimant has another child attending state school for whom they are not claiming CEA and who is within 2 years of public examinations, they may serve INVOLSEP until they are next assigned.
Contacts: CEAS go to:
www.gov.uk/childrens- education-advisory-service
Continuity of Education Allowance Governance Team (CEAGT) SPVA, Room G18, Innsworth House, Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, Gloucester GL3 1HW Telephone: 01452 712 612 ext 5693, GPTN: 95471 5471
Forces Employment Resettlement Grants Wills and Probate Lasting Powers of Attorney House Sale or Purchase (LSAP)
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www.forceslaw.com www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Autumn 2013 27
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