This site uses cookies to improve your experience. They are safe and secure and never contain sensitive information. For more information click here.

Resources Service Family Guide
  1. Home Page
  2. Resources
  3. Service Family Guide

The aim of the SSCE Cymru Service Family Guide is to provide information on education and living in Wales and the support that is available to schools, parents/carers and Service children.

The structure and content of the Service Family Guide was developed based on the findings of the SSCE Cymru parent/carer survey findings report. Content for the guide was produced with the support of the SSCE Cymru network, to ensure the most relevant and accurate information is provided.

The SSCE Cymru Service Family Guide includes the following sections:

  • Service children's experiences
  • Armed Forces in Wales
  • Living in Wales
  • Education in Wales
  • School admissions and term-time absence
  • Health, wellbeing and ALN
  • School support.

Download the SSCE Cymru Service Family Guide here

The SSCE Cymru Service Family Guide is also available in Welsh and Nepalese.

Launched: May 2021

Any queries or feedback regarding the content of the SSCE Cymru Service Family Guide should be directed to SSCECymru@wlga.gov.uk 

Listening to our Service children findings (2020).

88% of Service children have moved schools at least once due to the relocation of their parent(s).

Service parent/carer survey (2020).

What would have helped Service child(ren) to settle into a new community and school: 69% indicated information about education in Wales and the curriculum and 59% suggested signposting and contact details for relevant organisations.

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