Ysgolion Cyfeillgar y Lluoedd Arfog Cymru

Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru

Summary

The Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status aims to:

Embed good practice for supporting Service children
Create a positive environment for Service children to share their experiences
Encourage schools to become more engaged with their Armed Forces community.

The SSCE Cymru team will work closely with all schools to support them in achieving their status, through activities/actions on the SSCE Cymru checklist.

Schools will be expected to complete the following three steps throughout the process to achieve the status:

Identify – Appoint Service children and a key member of staff to become the Service Children School Champions
Understand – Develop an understanding of Service children and their needs by completing the SSCE Cymru CPD/e-learning
Engage – Engage with SSCE Cymru and the Armed Forces Community.

Status

There are three levels of awards for schools to work towards, which are achieved by meeting the following criteria:

Bronze

Identify a ‘Service Children School Champion’ (SCSC) who will be the primary link with SSCE Cymru
Ensure that the relevant staff members (see audit form) complete the SSCE Cymru CPD/e-learning
Embed a process for collecting data on Service children
Sign up to the SCiP Alliance Thriving Lives Toolkit and engage with the content
Complete at least 40% of activities/actions on the school checklist.

Silver

Have previously been awarded a Bronze Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status
Organise for a member of the Armed Forces to deliver a session with Service children and their peers
Liaise with the SSCE Cymru Participation Lead Officer to explore options for listening to Service children
Completed the SCiP Alliance Thriving Lives Toolkit, providing a self-assessment of the school's support for Service children in all 7 principles and commit to an annual review
Complete at least 60% of activities/actions on the school checklist.

Gold

Have previously been awarded Bronze and Silver Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status
Celebrate Month of the Military Child (April)
Embed a process for listening to your Service children and creating opportunities for them to share their experiences
Implement actions identified through the SCiP Alliance Thriving Lives Toolkit to progress to the "developing" or "embedding" status for all 7 principles
Complete at least 80% of activities/actions on the school checklist.

Download the SSCE Cymru checklist (Tool 1) here

UNCRC

Article 8: I have the right to an identity.

Service parent/carer survey (2020).

Challenges schools face in supporting Service children: 81% indicated gaining an understanding of the Armed Forces lifestyle, 58% said identifying Service children and 56% indicated supporting Service children with their emotional and wellbeing needs.

UNCRC

Article 28: I have the right to an education.

How to achieve Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status:

Attend an Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru drop-in session
Download the relevant audit form and SSCE Cymru checklist (Tool 1)
Familiarise yourself with the requirements of the status
Work through the SSCE Cymru checklist activities
Complete the activities associated with the essential criteria of the status
Complete the audit form and submit to SSCECymru@wlga.gov.uk with the required evidence.

Download the Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru bronze audit form here

Download the Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru silver audit form here

Download the Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru gold audit form here

Celebrating being an Armed Forces Friendly School

When a school is awarded Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status, they will be awarded the following items to celebrate their achievement and demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces community:

A certificate/trophy
A bronze/silver/gold Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru digital logo, which can be used on the school website and email signatures.

Schools may also be invited to participate in local and/or regional celebration events with SSCE Cymru, the Armed Forces and local authority Armed Forces Champions.

Your Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status will be valid for two years from the date that your audit is submitted once approved by the SSCE Cymru team.