Primary schools

Llanbedr CiW School, Powys - Month of the Military Child activity

Llanbedr CiW School, Powys - Month of the Military Child activity

Llanbedr CiW School is a small rural primary school that is situated in Powys and has a Service child in each class. The school support children with a child-centered approach, to focus on developing their independence, engagement, and enthusiasm. The school carried out several activities in April 2021 to celebrate the Month of the Military Child and the experiences of their Service children.

Case study completed by: Louise Edwards, Well Being Co-ordinator (Llanbedr CiW School, Powys) and Caitlin Woodland, Regional School Liaison Officer for Service children in East Wales (Newport City Council and SSCE Cymru)

Isabella, Service child, 4 years old

It was a very important day for me.

Dylan, Service child, 6 years old

It was great fun and exciting to tell all of my friends about my Dad and all the things he does. I loved showing the class photographs of my Dad on the big screen.

Which activities were carried out to celebrate the Month of the Military Child?

As part of the suggested activity from SSCE Cymru for Month of the Military Child, the pupils of Llanbedr CiW School carried out several activities. These activities included:

  • The school used the Little Troopers, Armed Forces and SSCE Cymru websites to find ideas to set the class-based activities.
  • With support from the well-being coordinator, each Service child created a Powerpoint presentation that highlighted their parent's role, their experiences of previous schools, how they moved away from friends, and the emotions they felt when starting a new school. The presentations included information and photographs given by their parents.
  • The Service children presented their Powerpoint to their peers. The class collected questions that were shared with the Service children’s families and then answered. This provided pupils with an opportunity to learn and better understand the Service children’s experiences.
  • The whole school wore something purple for the day. The class who wore the most purple had an extra ten minutes of playtime.
  • Key Stage 2 classes designed badges that might be suitable for Service children to wear. A competition was held to find the winning design.
  • Foundation Phase used their ICT and research skills to create fact files. They also created a variety of Armed Forces-inspired vehicles out of recycled materials.
  • The Nursery and Reception class created purple badges with a variety of images, including the seeded dandelion.
  • To share the information about the activities with pupils and families, the school provided information via the school newsletter, Schoop messages, and local community noticeboards. 

What was the impact?

The activities offered an opportunity for the Service children to share their stories and become fully integrated into the school as they joined the school during the Covid pandemic. It raised the staff and pupil’s awareness of Service children and the Armed Forces, by providing information of Service family life, the role of the Service parent, and how that may impact the Service child in the family.

The school’s activity was featured in the local newspaper ‘Brecon and Radnor Express’, to promote the support for the Armed Forces community to the local community.

Louise Edwards, Wellbeing Co-ordinator

As the activities were delivered by our Service children, it really was through the eyes of the child and was so understandable and relatable. The fun activities provided an enjoyable and memorable day.

How will support be sustained for Service children to ensure long-term benefits?

All staff members have attended the SSCE Cymru CPD training to gain a greater understanding of the experiences and needs of Service children. The school continues to follow the suggestions of the Regional School Liaison Officer, and maintain consistent communication to get advice, share ideas and implement further support for Service children. The school also created a display board of activities which is both a reminder of activities and a discussion starter for visitors, staff, and pupils.

Mrs Young, Mother

We felt so honoured when Llanbedr CiW School chose to take part in the Month of the Military Child. Ellie absolutely loved being made to feel so special and being given the opportunity to share her Dad’s military background and her life so far with her new friends. It’s not something she has ever been given the chance to do before so we really do thank Llanbedr CiW School for welcoming us as a military family with open arms.

Mrs Loftus, Mother of Service child

The Month of the Military Child activities that were run in Llanbedr CiW School proved wholeheartedly that all staff are aware of what our children sometimes have to live with, not seeing a parent for months at a time and the anxiety that can surround that.

Which areas of the Armed Forces Covenant were supported? 

  • Raise awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant and the issues affecting the Armed Forces Community in Wales
  • Improve the availability of information about the Armed Forces Covenant for the Armed Forces Community in Wales

For further information, see: 

The SSCE Cymru school checklist, which includes a variety of suggested activities and ways to celebrate your Service children’s experiences.

Date produced: May 2021

Service children’s quotes

"Being a military child is hard, but it also gets you a lot of new experiences that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise".

Esme-Jane

"For military children they [Mount Street Junior School] do a club called Little Troopers, they've done a Remembrance service, purple up day. We celebrate Holi and Dawali".

Arushi

"My Mum is my parent that is in the Armed Forces. She is a reservist. So when I was younger it was a lot worse, she travelled around a lot. I've lived in the same house my whole life, but she has moved around me. I was in a constant cycle of saying goodbye".

Emma

"My Dad, he's in the Army and he works in the Engineers and he goes away on week days and comes back on weekends"

Emily

"Dad often goes away. It is a bit worrying not knowing where your Dad is going. It does worry me and my sister. Yeah, you just never know when he's coming home". 

Joe

"In June or July, my Dad is going away quite far. He's in the Army, he's a chef. Having your Dad gone is so sad."

Josie

"I've lived in many places. So, I was born in Cyprus, after that I've been to Germany, then I went to this place called Stafford. Then another place which is Wales."

Dominic

"I've moved seven times in fourteen years." 

Lilia

"Now we've got a forever home. I never have to worry about leaving or how long until I am leaving. I feel like I belong here a lot more, that's always great."

Oliver

"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

"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’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

"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

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