***************************************************
Weekly blog email updates: please note that this service has had to be temporarily suspended with effect from the week beginning 29th Jan 2024 whilst we move to a new system. The update will still be provided here on the blog and will re-start by email as soon as possible.

If you’re not already on our subscriber list and would like to receive a weekly summary of the main blog posts for your location (or as many locations as you wish across the HIVE’s worldwide network) please sign up using this link

***************************************************

Friday 12 January 2024

New guidance for school governors and trustees on supporting Service children



To help schools and trusts to better understand the educational related challenges that Service children may face, and to help them thrive in education, the National Governance Association (NGA) has issued new guidance for school governing boards and trustees. The NGA created this guidance in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence – who provide statutory guidance for schools on the Armed Forces Covenant Duty – and the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance.

The guidance:

* Outlines the education-related disadvantages that can arise for Service children and the potential impact of parental deployment, separation and family mobility.

* Explains the role of governing boards in allocating school funding to meet the needs of Service children and has questions for boards to ask and consider. 

* Explores how the SCiP Alliance’s Thriving Lives Toolkit can be used as a self-assessment tool by schools to monitor and improve their practice and support for Service children.

* References the Armed Forces Covenant Duty, and which education functions of a school are in scope. If you are a Service parent who sits on a school governing board or trust, read and share this new guidance with the board.

Point of contact: Armed Forces Families & Safeguarding - Education Policy Team People-affs-education-mailbox@mod.gov.uk