Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support service personnel to obtain education, health and care plans for dependent children.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) established, operates and chairs the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP) principally consisting of those Authorities with the highest numbers of Service children. MODLAP has developed a number of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) related initiatives, which include the SEND Principles. These focus on supporting Service children that require provisions typically contained within Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

In recognition of the unique circumstances of Service children, the SEND Principles enhance provisions already contained within the SEND Code of Practice. These Principles also include measures to ease the conversion of MOD issued Service Children’s Assessment of Needs (SCAN) documentation (MOD equivalent of EHCPs) to EHCPs, following Service children’s return to England after attendance at MOD schools overseas.

In addition, in February of this year, MODLAP issued an advisory note to every Director of Children’s Services in England. This provided advice to Local Authorities and schools in regard to how SEND services may meet the unique needs of Service children with SEND, in keeping with their Armed Forces Covenant statutory duties.

The MOD also provides Service Personnel with access to SEND information, advice and guidance via its Education Advisory Team, based within Defence Children’s Services. This team is staffed with specialists who are qualified teachers and include backgrounds within SEND services and as school SEN Coordinators. This support, combined with their intimate knowledge of Service-related challenges, means our Service Personnel receive an expert support package.

Alongside ongoing Grant in Aid funding provided to the Armed Forces Families Federations, the MOD also delivers grant programmes focused on education issues, including a specific funding theme for SEND. Over the course of the last two funding cycles, the MOD has provided over £2M in SEND grants to Local Authorities and schools to deliver projects and activities that provide added value to support Service children’s SEND needs.