Armed Forces - Families, children and young people

Find information about childcare and funding in the East Riding of Yorkshire or email FISH@eastriding.gov.uk.

Information on childcare for service families within the UK and overseas is available on the GOV.UK website.

This service provides advice and guidance to service parents, educational establishments and local authorities on educational issues relating to service children, including issues relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). All advice given is impartial, child-centred and focuses on the best interests of the individual.

More information is available on the GOV.UK website or call (01980) 618244.

Find information about education for service children in the UK on the GOV.UK website.

Find information and advice on education overseas for service children on the GOV.UK website.

Find out about schools in the East Riding, including details of school applications, allocations and admissions.

The Service Pupil Premium (SPP) is designed to help a school to provide the extra support that a service child may need and is currently worth £310 per service child who meets the eligibility criteria. Money is paid directly to the school for the total number of Service children as a whole within the school and not specifically allocated to individual children.

The scheme was introduced in recognition of the specific challenges children from service families' face. 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. Eligible schools receive the Service Pupil Premium so that they can offer pastoral support during challenging times and to help mitigate the negative impact on Service children of family mobility or parental deployment.

Find out more on the GOV.UK website.

Service personnel with children (reception to year 11) in state schools in England should notify schools of their children's service status to ensure they are recorded prior to the Spring census in order to qualify for Service Pupil Premium.

Currently a child is eligible for Service Pupil Premium if:

• One of their parents is serving in the Regular Armed Forces (including pupils with a parent who is on full commitment as part of the Full Time Reserve Service)
• They have been registered as a 'Service child' on the school census at any point since 2016
• One of their parents died whilst serving in the Armed Forces and the pupil receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme

Examples of Good Practice

The Army Families Federation have created a list of ways that schools have used the Service Pupil Premium to support their children. Schools should consider these at their own discretion based on the needs of their individual children:

• Learning Support Assistant dedicated to the emotional wellbeing and academic achievement of Service children
• Computer equipment for Skype chat time
• Half-termly social events for parents and children
• Webpage for Service families
• Themed visits and outings
• Moving-schools support including 'My passport'
• After school clubs
• Camera equipment for photographs
• Welcome films made by pupils
• Deployment display boards
• Memory boxes for children moving on
• Homework support groups
• Around the world assembly
• Service children's base within school, with a bank of computers for scanning schoolwork to email to parents who are away and keep them in touch

Find out more on the Army Families Federation website.

Other useful sources of information are outlined below:

• The Ministry of Defence has published a Best Practice Guide for ways to spend the Service Pupil Premium.
• The Royal British Legion have developed a Guide for Schools.
• Military Kids Club Heroes (MKC) is a pupil voice network for the children and young people of current and ex-Serving individuals that is supported and facilitated by The Royal British Legion. Members of MKC Heroes are ambassadors and young advocates for Service and Veterans' families. The group offers the opportunity to form friendships that can provide strength and support especially in times of need. Find out more on the MKC Heroes website.
• Reading Force provides books and scrap books to children when their parent has been deployed. Find out more on the Reading Force website.
• Service Children in State Schools (SCISS) is a voluntary affiliated network of state-maintained schools in England that have any number of Service children on roll. Find out more on the SCISS website.

Designed by the Service Children's Progression (SCiP) Alliance and underpinned by rigorous research and thoroughly tested, the Thriving Lives Toolkit provides schools with a framework of 7 principles through which to reflect on their practice and a 3 tier set of CPD resources. The resources in this toolkit have been developed in collaboration with a range of partners across the UK, and consist of:

• an introductory animation
• a detailed resource introducing the evidence base, what schools can do to support their Service children and who can help
• school case studies.

The SCiP Alliance is a partnership of organisations focused on improving outcomes for children from Military families. Their website has a number of resources for schools including research briefings around moving schools and non-operational separation (weekending).

Find out more about these resources and download the Thriving Lives Toolkit from the Service Children's Progression Alliance website.

After longer periods of deployment, Service individuals are granted periods of R&R (rest and recuperation), where they have time off to spend with family. This time may not coincide with school holidays which may result in term-time absence requests. Find out more about MOD advice to headteachers on term-time absence for Service children.

As a member of the Armed Forces community you can get higher education advice from the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is also available to service children, veterans, reservists, and spouses and partners of UK Armed Forces personnel.

More information is available on the UCAS website.

There is also additional support and advice available:

• The SCiP Alliance offers guidance to support a service child and their school when writing their university applications
• The Ministry of Defence guidance page Higher Education for Service Children has links to useful information including information on funding, applying for university and top tips.
• The Office for Students (OfS) published a topic briefing in July 2020 titled 'Children from military families'. It includes links to various resources along with advice for higher education providers.
• The three Families Federations have information pages providing further information on access to higher education:
• Naval Families Federation
• Army Families Federation
• RAF Families Federation

The AFF is the independent voice of Army families and works hard to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world, offering confidential advice on any aspect of the Army lifestyle.

Find out what support the AFF can offer on their website.

Those preparing to transition out of the forces can also find out how to access support on the AFF website.

AWS is the Army's professional welfare provider; it delivers a comprehensive and confidential welfare service responsive to the needs of individuals, families and the Chain of Command in order to maximise the operation effectiveness of service personnel. This includes personal support such as:

• domestic abuse
• child and adult safeguarding
• bereavement
• relationship difficulties
• stress and anxiety management
• emotional wellbeing
• signposting.

It also provides community support which includes learning and personal development opportunities for military personnel and their families wherever they are living. It offers non-formal education opportunities to children and young people including activities during school holidays and offsite residential experiences.

The local AWS office is based in York and provides support to the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield.

Find out more on the Army Welfare Service website, call (01904) 882053 or email RC-AWS-IAT-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Local youth services are provided by the AWS at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield.

Children and young people can take part in a range of youth club sessions including school holiday programmes, residentials and a monthly forest school.

To find out more about the local youth services provided by the AWS at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, call (01964) 561743.

If a member of your family has an additional need and/or disability, there is a guide available which provides information about the support that the Ministry of Defence, Service charities and external organisations can offer you. View the Guide compiled by the FANDF Committee and the SSAFA Additional Needs and Disability Advisor.

Parents with children who have educational and healthcare plans can self-refer for additional support from the 0-25 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities team.

Find out more on the East Riding Local Offer website or call (01482) 394000.

Select option 5, then option 2 to get through to the 0-25 team.

This guide provides basic information on army life, the effects on you, your family and your serving soldier.

ARMY - Guide for Army Families (pdf 4mb)

East Riding Libraries have created an Armed Forces Covenant book collection, which primarily provides books aimed at supporting young people whose friends or family members are serving in the Armed Forces.

View the collection and reserve books on the East Riding Libraries website.

The East Riding Local Offer provides clear, accessible information about what services are available in the area for parents, children and young people aged 0-25 years with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

Find out more on the Local Offer website.

The East Yorkshire Parent Carer Forum collects parents' views to work with the local authority and health commissioners to improve services for children and young people (0-25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities.

Membership is open to any parent or carer living in East Yorkshire with a child or young person aged between 0 and 25 with disabilities or special needs. Members receive frequent updates and information as well as being able to attend events, training sessions, and provide feedback.

Find out more on the East Yorkshire Parent Carer Forum website.

KIDS SENDIASS offers independent support and advocacy for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disability both diagnosed and undiagnosed. The service provides impartial, confidential and free advice and support.

Find out more on the East Riding Local Offer website.

The Family Services Directory is a one-stop shop where you can get information on childcare within the East Riding, as well as local and national services for families with children and young people.

Find out more on the Family Services Directory website.

The friendly, helpful FISH team provides free, impartial information for young people, parents and carers and professionals who have a role in supporting families.

FISH is a 'one-stop-shop' where you can get details of funding available for 2, 3 and 4 year olds as well as services in the East Riding for children and young people aged 0-20 years.

You can find information on:

• childcare
• children's centres
• education and learning
• health
• leisure centres
• money matters
• parent toddler groups
• support for parents and young people
• activities and services for children with additional needs.

Find full details on the FISH website, call (01482) 396469 or email fish@eastriding.gov.uk.

Home-Start Hull offers practical and emotional support to families with at least one child under 5 living in the Hull and Beverley areas.

Assistance is provided through home visiting volunteers, as well as telephone support and befriending.

Find out more on the Home-Start Hull website, visit the Home-Start Hull Facebook page or follow the Home-Start Hull Twitter feed.

Little Troopers supports all children with one or both parents serving in the British Armed Forces, regular or reserve. They provide fundamental resources, initiatives and support to ease and aid repeated separation periods aiming to keep parent and child connected and bonded even when miles apart.

Find out more on the Little Troopers website.

This totally confidential service offers help, support and advice with a wide range of issues such as:

• schools
• accommodation
• finances
• future plans
• posting overseas
• relationships
• health.

Find out more on the NFF website.

The RAF's leading welfare charity supports all serving and former members of the RAF as well as their partners and dependent children.

They can help with:

• welfare breaks
• grants to help with financial difficulty
• getting about inside and outside the home
• specialist advice on benefits
• support with care needs
• support for young people.

Find out more on the RAF Benevolent Fund website.

RAFFF provides all RAF personnel and their families, regular and reserve, single or married, with timely and professional support, assistance and an independent voice regarding issues or concerns that they may have.

Find out more on the RAFFF website.

The Royal Air Force provides guidance and practical support for the partners and families of serving RAF personnel.

Find out more on the RAF website.

Every family needs some extra help from time to time. From discounted activity camps to specialist practical assistance, 'Strengthening Families - By Your Side' offers Royal Navy and Royal Marines families the right support at the right time.

Find out more on the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity website.

SENDIASS provides information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs or disabilities and can also give information and advice directly to children aged 0-16. The service provided is impartial and confidential. Referrals are only accepted from parents, carers and children aged 0-16.

Find out more on the East Riding Local Offer website, email sendiass@eastriding.gov.uk or call (01482) 396469.

You can also contact SENDIASS by texting 07507 310273 (text only).

The Naval Families Federation has produced a guide for parents and adults supporting children and young people who are experiencing parental absence and separation, providing some strategies to help families thrive.

Information on local youth groups and volunteering opportunities for young people is available on our Community and relationships webpage.

Any victim of domestic abuse has the right to be supported and to stay safe. There are many support services, both local and national, that can help you if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

GOV.UK Domestic abuse: guidance and support for the Armed Forces community

GOV.UK Armed Forces domestic abuse: where to get help

East Riding Council: domestic violence - adults or call (01482) 396368

East Riding Council: domestic violence - children aged 6-16 or call (01482) 396368

Childline is a free, private and confidential service to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they are going through.

Calling Childline does not show up on the phone bill.

More information is available on the Childline website or to talk to a counsellor, call free on 0800 1111.

The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover.

Find out more on the NSPCC website.

If you are worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact the NSPCC for help, advice and support. Call on 0808 800 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

This scheme is available to provide scholarships for the children of service personnel whose death has been attributed to service since 1990.

Find more information on the GOV.UK website.

This is a freephone service for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, whether they are parents, grandparents, siblings, family members, friends or involved professionals. It offers a confidential, safe environment within which a caller can talk openly about the child's life and death. Support is available not only at times of crisis but also for ongoing needs of callers over their lifetime.

The helpline is open every day of the year. Call 0800 282 986 or 0808 800 6019 if calling from a mobile.

Cruse can provide support directly to the family and partners of service personnel through their national helpline and network of local services.

Find more information on the Cruse Bereavement Care website.

You can call the national helpline on 0808 808 1677, or alternatively, to access support at a local branch (Hull, Bridlington and Goole) call (01482) 565565 or email hull@cruse.org.uk

SSAFA offer various support groups for bereaved families, offering the opportunity to speak to a different network of people.

Find more information on the SSAFA website.

This is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.

Find more information on the Compassionate Friends website or call 0345 123 2304.

The IIA provides free legal advice to bereaved service families. They can help if a family member has died while serving in the UK Armed Forces (death does not have to be related to combat), or a family member has died while on active duty in the reserve forces (including travelling to and from duty).

The IIA can also help you with referrals to other support services, specialist lawyers, and outside agencies that will work with you throughout the process.

Find more information on the IIA website or call the helpline on 0808 802 8080.

Winston's Wish support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.

Find further information on the Winston's Wish website. You can access support via the helpline 0808 802 0021 and online chat. Support is also available as an email service, drop-in sessions or face-to-face meetings.