Schools and local authorities across Wales are taking a proactive approach to ensuring that Service children are not disadvantaged by the unique challenges associated with the Armed Forces lifestyle.
In some cases, schools and local authorities may need to access additional funding to continue to support their Service children in the most effective way. SSCE Cymru recognises that identifying suitable funding opportunities, determining which grants best align with specific projects, and completing application processes can be challenging. We are therefore pleased to offer guidance and support to help schools and local authorities access appropriate funding opportunities.
No Service Pupil Premium (SPP) in Wales
The SPP in England provides annual funding per Service child to help provide additional pastoral support to reduce the disadvantages they may experience as a result of Service life.
Schools in Wales can access funds in support of their Service children through the grant schemes indicated below.
Most significant challenges they face in supporting their Service children: 25% of primary schools indicated Funding.
These documents provide advice from the SSCE Cymru team for schools and local authorities, to assist them when applying for funding to support Service children.
The advice provided is general and not specific to any particular funding stream.
The checklist includes suggested actions to help when preparing and completing a funding application.
The ideas and suggestions document includes examples of activities that applicants could incorporate as part of funded projects to support Service children.
The SSCE Cymru team also delivers regular informal funding drop-in sessions to discuss funding ideas and provide advice.
The Supporting Service Children in Education in Wales Fund (SSCE-WF) is funded by the Welsh Government and administered by SSCE Cymru.
Schools and local authorities in Wales can apply for grant funding to deliver projects and interventions during the 2026/27 academic year, to provide support for Service children who meet the Welsh Government's definition of a Service child.
There are three grants available:
See the Overview and guidance document for further information about priorities and eligibility criteria for all three grants.
Schools and local authorities in Wales can apply for a small grant to deliver a project which provides support to their Service children.
Up to £500 projects – open to all local authorities and local authority maintained schools in Wales.
Up to £1,000 projects – open to all local authorities in Wales and local authority maintained schools in Wales that hold a valid Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status.
Priority themes:
- Academic support
- Wellbeing support
- Service children voice.
Application deadlines:
Round 1: 9th October 2026
Round 2: 11th December 2026
Applications will be reviewed within 14 days of the above deadlines.
Schools and local authorities in Wales can apply for up to £500 to deliver activities and celebrations during Month of Military Child in April.
Application deadline:
12th February 2027
Applications will be reviewed within 14 days of the above deadline.
Schools in Wales can apply for up to £500 to provide short-term, targeted support for an individual Service child or a small number of Service children, to help address immediate barriers to learning, wellbeing, and engagement due to the impact of the Armed Forces Lifestyle.
Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the academic year and will be reviewed within 14 days of submission.
Schools must contact SSCE Cymru to discuss the needs of the Service child/ren and determine if this funding is appropriate before accessing the application form.
The following grants are NOT administered by SSCE Cymru, but the team would be very pleased to support any school or local authority in Wales with planning and submitting an application. Please see the funding advice section above.
"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
Welsh Local Government Association
One Canal Parade
Dumballs Road
Cardiff
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