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About SSCE Cymru

Our mission

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  3. Our mission

SSCE Cymru mission

Knowledge and evidence

Coordinate research and compile evidence on the experiences of Service children in education to ensure their needs are well understood.

Activity and resources

Collaborate with members of the SSCE Cymru Network to conduct activities and produce resources that will help support Service children throughout their education.

Supporting policy and systems

Work with organisations to provide evidence and impact policy relevant to supporting Service children in education.

SSCE Cymru history

Supporting Service Children in Education (SSCE) Cymru is a Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) programme, initially funded by the MOD’s Education Support Fund and funded by Welsh Government from 2019.

Since the programme began in 2014, SSCE Cymru has worked with schools, children and young people, local authorities, Welsh Government, education professionals, Armed Forces families and support organisations to gather their views and experiences, build networks across Wales and raise awareness and understanding of the experiences of children of Armed Forces personnel. SSCE Cymru has developed guidance and digital resources for schools and families, hosted conferences and stakeholder days, and commissioned research to better understand the needs of Service children in education.

SSCE Cymru flyer

SSCE Cymru poster

Definition of a Service child

The Welsh Government's definition of a Service child:

A ‘Service child’ has parent(s) or person(s) exercising parental responsibility who is/are Service personnel serving:
- In HM Regular or Reserve Armed Forces - Royal Navy and Royal Marines; British Army and Royal Air Force, Or
- Is an Armed Forces Veteran who has been in Service within the past two years Or
- One of their parents died whilst serving in the Armed Forces and the learner has received a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme.

SSCE Cymru also encourages schools and education settings to consider identifying Service children and young people who don't fit within the above definition but have a link to the Armed Forces.

UNCRC

Article 42: Everyone should know about children’s rights.

UNCRC

Article 4: Governments must protect and respect my rights.

I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times it’s just a normal thing now.

Service children’s quotes

"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."

Aiden

"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."

Ashim

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Chloe

"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."

Chloe

"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."

Georgia

"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."

Harry

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Ieuan

"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."

Mia

"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."

Oliver

"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."

Ryan

"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."

Shana

"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."

Sianed

"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"

Sanjog

"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."

Lewis

"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."

Piaras

"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."

Dan