Children of military families, who are the offspring of current or former armed forces personnel, face specific educational challenges. Military life can be a source of pride and resilience, but it also brings experiences and challenges that their civilian peers may never encounter.
Separation and Relocation
Many of these children may experience periods of family separation when the serving parent is away from home due to training or deployment. These separations can harm family relationships and negatively impact children's mental health. Additionally, frequent relocations to different places in the UK or abroad lead to school changes and the need to establish new relationships with others.
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Research shows that the more frequently children are relocated, the lower their academic abilities become. According to the Armed Forces Covenant, military personnel and their families should not suffer any disadvantage compared to civilians, but for families whose children have Special Educational Needs (SEND), this claim can seem far from reality.
The Garrison Assist Project
In response to these challenges, the Garrison Assist (Gap) project at Catterick Garrison, the largest army base in the UK, was launched to improve support for children of military families with special educational needs. Funded by the Armed Forces Trust, this project has helped facilitate communication between schools and families by sharing experiences.
Evaluation of this project indicates that there are three key principles for strengthening support for children with special educational needs: effective communication, high-quality education that meets children's needs, and building positive relationships based on trust. Schools must establish ongoing and empathetic communication with families to effectively respond to their needs.
Ultimately, although schools cannot overcome all the challenges of the education system alone, the successful experiences of schools in Catterick Garrison demonstrate that necessary support for families can be strengthened while adhering to the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant.
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