1. No category

Schools and
Settings with
Service Families:
update
April 2015
As ever, the spring term was another busy one in the education world and this was particularly true for
our work in support of Service families. In January, we welcomed a group of senior leaders and SCE
staff from Germany as part of our aim to support schools during the ‘drawdown’. We also hosted
another extremely successful conference, bigger than ever before, with the blueprint of the day being
used for a further three conferences across the country. Our two Service Pupil Champions, Annabel
and Nickie, made a powerful film about the HMS Heroes initiative and set the ball rolling for a Young
Person’s Ambassadors’ scheme, details of which are included in this Update. And just before Easter,
some Catterick senior leaders visited Cyprus to support the regimental moves between Episkopi and
Catterick Garrisons this summer.
Throughout the term, the LA’s Strategic group for Service children met regularly, working closely with
the MoD to support schools and settings with the pending high mobility that will be associated with the
Army Rebasing Plan. Part of the group’s work was to commission a primary drama project which is
aimed at building resilience amongst pupils and encouraging schools to reflect of their pupil transition
practices. Wherever Home Is arrives in our schools in April and May and is generating much media
interest. The ‘performance’ will be filmed enabling us to develop a teaching resource for any school
with Service pupils on roll to access.
This term is expected to be equally busy. To support the arrival of the 6FLR unit from Gutersloh in
Germany to Dishforth during the summer of 2016, an LA / MOD officers’ visit, accompanied by
relevant school leaders, is scheduled for June, and special events are being planned on the Garrison
th
th
to mark the 70 anniversary of VE day on the 8 May. And another key date for everyone’s diaries is
th
Saturday 27 June which is Armed Forces Day, with events planned across the county on that day
and the week preceding it.
I hope you find this Update informative and perhaps also inspiring you to get further involved in
supporting this important group of children and young people. I thank Annabel and Nickie for
compiling it.
Matt Blyton, Lead Adviser, Education & Skills (NYCC)
Contents
‘Wherever Home Is’
HMS Heroes Ambassadors
Community Covenant Grant Scheme
SCISS North of England Conference
HMS Heroes Roundup
And Finally…
Contact details
p.2
p.4
p.5
p.6
p.9
p.12
p.13
1
‘Wherever Home Is’
Primary School Drama Project
April-May 2015
The impact of the drawdown from Germany
and the arrival of Service families from other
parts of the UK including Swanton Morley in
Norfolk, in addition to ‘normal’ military
movements, will create a period of particular
transience and change from summer 2015
onwards.
In previous years as a result of evidence from
the bi- annual ‘Growing Up in North Yorkshire
Survey’, North Yorkshire County Council has
instigated a number projects targeting areas of
potential vulnerability and concern for our
Service Children. One of these was the
commissioning and delivery of a play called
‘You Only Live Once’ by the Invisible Man
Theatre Company. This was a play aimed at
Secondary school audiences and focussed on
a teenage Service girl. Challenging and
strained situations put her in some socially
vulnerable and risky situations which
encouraged pupils to discuss and examine
‘risk taking’ behaviours in their own lives which
the survey had highlighted as an area of
concern.
Children from a number of schools in Germany
will be transferring to Catterick Garrison and
other parts of the county. Many of our current
pupils will be leaving from 2015 -2017, moving
to other parts of the UK or overseas including
Cyprus and Brunei. These major moves will
impact on all schools that serve the units
based at Catterick Garrison and its outstations.
Any move can be viewed as being disruptive.
With large numbers of pupils moving, it is
essential to
provide
a
secure
and
understanding environment in which to either
prepare for transfer or prepare to receive new
pupils. Many of our schools are well versed in
supporting transition through a range of
actions. This project helps to develop the
emotional resilience of those involved, pupils
and school staff.
Now NYCC is working with the same Theatre
Group to design and deliver another drama
this time for the Year 2-6 age groups looking at
‘transitions and mobility’. The background to
this exciting project, which is fully funded by
the MOD Support Fund for State School after
a successful bid by NYCC, is the forthcoming
‘rebasing’ of the Army and drawdown from
Germany. The bid application states:
It will also prepare pupils for the arrival of new
children and families into their schools, and
work up suggestions to help ease the
transition. An initial interactive drama will be
followed by a series of in-class structured
exercises and activities which will interrogate
the play’s action. This will be followed up by
Our Super cluster of schools will be
experiencing a disruptive amount of change in
pupils as the impact of the drawdown from
Germany affects Catterick Garrison. Our aim is
to develop a drama project, working with a
company called ‘An Invisible Man’. The
company will develop an interactive drama
which aims to support children who are about
to move from one school to another and to
alleviate the worries and anxieties that can
arise. It will also prepare pupils for the arrival
of new ‘friends’ in to their school, and work up
suggestions to help ease the transition.
2
2. All pupils who will be meeting new
the conclusion to the ‘drama’ where children
will share their discoveries and various
conclusions. An Invisible Man Theatre
Company, led by director Stephen Burke
(www.invisibleman.co.uk)
is
a
theatre
company which writes and performs plays,
mainly in schools, that respond to a live
agenda, subject or community interest- in this
case transition/mobility. They have undertaken
a considerable amount of research, visiting
schools in UK and Germany, and working with
groups of children, parents and staff who have
contributed their knowledge and feelings about
the subject.
3.
4.
5.
children moving into their school are
conversant with the stresses and
anxieties that moving can create.
Continued improvement in attainment
and progress using both internal and
external measures, as all children feel
content and secure.
Continue to ensure provision which will
be of a high quality through improving
staff knowledge and understanding.
Continue the high degree of expertise
in supporting children from Service
families.
The day is aimed at being a positive and
empowering experience for the children and to
enable both Service Children and Non-Service
Children to talk about and explore the
experience of what it feels like to start and
leave new schools, often many times over.
The play and follow up lessons will be
delivered to 20 primary schools across the
county in April and May in time for the major
changes with Army rebasing and drawdown
due in 2015-16.
We look forward to working with Stephen and
his team as this project comes to a school
near you in the next few months.
The aims of the project, which will also be
delivered to schools in Hohne ahead of unit
moves to Catterick, are:
1. That the transition of all pupils
involved in the re-basing will be
smoother and effective.
Annabel Hall, Service Pupils’ Champion
Images from the YOLO production by An Invisible Man Theatre Company. The ‘Wherever Home Is’ production is
being filmed and the DVD and teaching resource will be available for schools to use. Please contact Annabel Hall or
Nickie Young for further information.
3
HMS Heroes’ Ambassadors
In January 2015, Annabel and I travelled North
Yorkshire talking to children from 8 schools in
the county about their involvement in HMS
Heroes and how they felt they had been
supported by HMS Heroes for our Voices film
(now available on YouTube). While chatting
with the young people, a student from
Outwood Academy in Ripon asked if she could
become an Ambassador…
they have been victimised more than their
civilian counterparts. Most differences in the
perceptions shared by the children of our
Armed Forces compared to ‘non-Service
pupils’ were negative. For example, the survey
highlights that Service pupils as a group do not
have the same ambitions to further their
education and establish good careers as their
civilian peers. Some schools claim that the
survey findings are wrong and that the Service
children and young people in the county are
being misrepresented - however, the only way
these ideas can be countered is if the young
people stand up and say it for themselves.
That is why HMS Heroes and Ambassadors
are tools that should be utilised as fully as
possible to enable these young people to use
their voice and speak up for themselves and
their peers and to try and give them the
opportunity to do so effectively.
Fast forward to April and we are on the brink of
launching this exciting group in North
Yorkshire with the help and support of the
AWS in Catterick Garrison. ‘Ambassadors’ is
a group which already runs in Plymouth, the
HQ of HMS Heroes, with great success. It
aims to enable young people from Service
families to be a voice and actively campaign
for Service pupils, thereby developing their
leadership skills. Ambassadors from Plymouth
have met the Speaker for the House of
Commons, the Minister for Service Personnel
and their local MPs with the aims of raising the
profile of Service pupils and having their
voices heard.
Our first Ambassadors’ meeting is scheduled
th
for 28 April, when we are going bowling and
having pizza. The funds for the evening have
been applied for by the young people
themselves and after we have bowled they will
lead the meeting which will give us an idea of
where they want to go and what they would
like to do. As when all new things start, it’s a
little bit nerve-wracking but also a big bit
exciting! When we started planning the first
meeting, we thought we would probably be
bowling against our own children but I am
pleased to say that we have young people
interested and committed to coming and as the
saying goes: ‘from small acorns mighty oaks
grow’!
Engaging young people can be hard at the
best of times, however we are hoping that the
fact that this initiative is led by young people
and for young people may encourage more
involvement.
Annabel and I are regularly told by our schools
that their Service pupils are doing as well as,
and in some cases outperforming, their civilian
peers - therefore the need for extra support, as
provided by HMS Heroes and hopefully the
Ambassadors, is not needed. The Growing Up
In North Yorkshire Survey however found that
Service pupils are more likely to indulge in
risky and negative behaviours and feel that
See you at the Tri Services Youth Forum!
Nickie Young, Service Pupils’ Champion
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Community Covenant Grant Scheme
The MoD Community Covenant Grant Scheme support projects at the local level which strengthen the
ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider
community in which they live. The current programme (2012/15) has now ended. A new programme
is expected to be launched later in 2015 and information about how to apply will be published
on this webpage when it is available.
Successful bids
Successful bids in North Yorkshire involving schools and settings to date have included contributions
towards the following projects:
2012

Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School - floodlighting for multi-play area (£29k grant towards
£34k project)

Hipswell CE Primary School - play area and outdoor classroom (£30k towards £32k project)

Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School - new building for out of school club (£50k grant
towards £80k project)

Alne Pre-school Playgroup - new building (£31k grant towards £126k project)

Hunton and Arrathorne Community Primary School - extend early years teaching area (£20k
grant towards £40k project)

Richmond School - sports pavilion (£150k towards £680k project)

Aiskew, Leeming Bar CE Primary School - ICT hub and cafe (£7k towards £14k project)
2013

Carnagill Community Primary School - adventure trim trail (£21k towards £24k project)

Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School - performing arts project (£4k towards £14k project)

Le Cateau Community Primary School - international cafe and community garden (£18k grant
towards £24k project)

North Yorkshire County Council Youth Support Service - Richmondshire youth arts and
community festival (£2k grant towards £5k project)

Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School - multi-use games area and playground
improvements (£25k grant towards £31k project)
2014

Carlton Miniott Community Primary School - new early years play and learning area (£20k
grant towards £45k project)

Busy Bees Pre-School - refurbished premises at Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School
(£12k grants towards £20k project)

Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School - Getting Fit & Healthy project (£18k grant towards
£29k project)

NYMAZ - Feel the Music and Little Tots Rock (£5k grant towards £44k project)
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
Michael Syddall C E Aided Primary School - helping our community focus on a digital future
(£15k grant towards £43k project)
The full list of successful grants in the county can be viewed at
http://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/ccgrant
The total committed to projects in North Yorkshire over the three years of the Community Covenant
Grant Scheme is over £1.7m (out of a national pot of £30m). In June 2013, the Chancellor
announced that funding in support of the Armed Forces Covenant would be made permanent through
a £10m per annum in perpetuity fund from the defence budget, starting in 2015/16. The new scheme
will be a generic Armed Forces Covenant Grant Scheme and will replace all the previous covenant
grant schemes including the Community Covenant Grant Scheme, the LIBOR Fund and the Veterans
Accommodation Fund. Funding priorities will be set nationally and annually, but it is not expected that
the new scheme will be open to bids before summer 2015.
For further information, contact Mark Logie 01748 874539 [email protected] or Neil Irving
01609 533489 [email protected].
SCISS’s ‘EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS FOR SERVICE CHILDREN’ NORTH OF ENGLAND CONFERENCE
perceptions from the 2014 Growing up in North
Yorkshire Survey and the use of the Pupil
Information Profile (PIP) to aid school
transition.
The voices of Service Pupils
themselves were presented through a DVD
made by members of HMS Heroes throughout
the county.
At the end of January, North Yorkshire hosted
the 7th annual Service Pupils’ Conference at
the Pavilions in Harrogate attended by 130
delegates from across the North of England,
Scotland and Northern Ireland with guests
from SCE schools based in Hohne and
Fallingbostel. More than ever attended this
event which is widely recognised to case study
good practice, to inform on national updates
from the Directorate of Children and Young
People and strengthen partnership working.
The Conference was opened by Squadron
Leader Chris Ditch from RAF Leeming and Lt
Col Mike Butterwick from 4 Brigade, alongside
NYCC’s Assistant Director for the Education
and Skills Service, Jill Hodges. Key note
speakers included Dr Helen Jenner, Director of
Children’s Services from
Barking and
Dagenham who spoke on the 5 Bridges model
to support transition and current research on
minimising the impact of multiple transitions on
pupils.
Comments
included:
from
delegates
on
the
day
 Thank you, very good conference, very
well run.
 Another well organised and valuable
conference.
 Always useful to network and hear about
the work going on in the area.
 Thank you for organising such a useful
event.
 Yet again a superbly organised day which
covered a range of topics related to
transitions and outcomes for service
children.
 A
very
good
conference,
very
interesting. Interesting work/networking –
lots of good work is going on and clear
goals for service children.
 Thank you for the day, the variety of
discussion has been helpful.
 Another excellent day. I have attended
every conference since the beginning and
I am still learning and picking up new
ideas of ways to best support our
children. A really valuable day.
Workshops were held on Service Children
with SEND - How Could we do Better?;
Children’s Voices-Royal Caledonian Schools’
Trust; The Children’s University; MoD support
fund case studies, including one on Service
Children’s Advocates.
The Conference reflected on Service Pupil
achievement and wider outcomes and pupil
6
 A very thought-provoking day that has
reminded me about all the things there
are to celebrate about meeting service
children’s needs whilst supporting them
through challenging times.
 Focus
on
SEN
was
particularly
useful. Very relevant for Service children
but raises issues for all pupils – very
useful.
 Overall another informative day. Well
organised and well delivered. With
rebasing, this year’s conference has been
particularly useful.
 The best part was the pupil voice
including the video about HMS Heroes.
There was a sense of pride seeing
Bedale pupils on screen. The clubs must
be commended!
 We speak a lot about mobile school
pupils’ attainment but fast ‘value added’ in
the short times they are in schools (2
years etc.) and progress should be the
focus. Some schools do exceptionally
well with service pupils and their case
studies would help. Also more on the
projects like the ‘talk’ one please to share
good practice.
 Children coping with friends moving on –
impact on learning.
 How primary schools can further support
service
children
in
non-service
schools. What is working well in schools
with a high percentage of service children
in the UK? Sharing good practice that
gets results.
 Review of transition of pupils from SCE to
England after some arrive following first
phase of Germany drawdown.
 Further presentations about the impact of
pupil premium and how this is measured.
 What do other HMS Heroes groups
do? Discussion/workshop on Seal type
activities to help service children.
 Results of any research e.g. into progress
of service pupils and their peers
And comments about what delegates would
like to see at future conferences included:
 Ideas on how to spend support fund/PP
etc.
 Raising aspirations amongst service
children post 16.
 Emotional support systems that are tried
and tested.
 Presentation from a parent of a service
child who has had a positive experience
of moving around. From early years to
F.E./university?
 Practical
ideas/projects
which
address/show progress children make in
the national curriculum now levels have
gone
with
the
challenges
of
mobility.
Support for schools in
addressing risky behaviours.
 More sharing of experiences – what
successful schools do really well with
transition.
 More workshops from schools’ ‘projects’
linked to Service pupils.
Thank you to those that attended the
conference. For further information about any
of the speakers or workshops please contact
Matt Blyton. If you have further suggestions
for, or offers of help with, future events please
contact Matt, Nickie Young or Annabel Hall.
All contact details found at the end of this
newsletter.
Conference resources and presentations can
be downloaded from:
www.fronter.com/northyorks/
Username: nyservice
Password: pupils
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Spring Term 2015 ‘snippets’...
Ripon Grammar School
In February, 6 members of RGS’s group gave
an assembly to the rest of the school. Here is
what they said:
Personally, growing up with my dad in the
army has given me so many opportunities and
memories that I wouldn’t have experienced
without him being a soldier. I have lived in
many places including Cyprus, Brunei and
Northern Ireland. Because of this I have been
able to experience many different cultures and
ways of life. The average military child has to
move schools between six and nine times in
their school life. I have had to move schools
frequently and leave my friends behind
although I always saw it as a new and exciting
adventure in a completely different place. On
the other hand, there are some negatives of
being an army child. When people ask me
where I’m from I always struggle with a
definitive answer. At 6 weeks old I found
myself in Brunei and I’ve continued to travel
ever since. One of the hardest parts of army
life is spending time away from my dad, when
he is deployed to very dangerous places.
During this time we all learned to help and
support each other. It is often hard to say
goodbye to a parent not knowing how long it
may be for or whether you’ve said your last
goodbye.
Even though there are many
challenges living with a parent in the army, I
believe it has helped to shape who I am….we
have found our way to group together in our
schools through starting our own HMS Heroes
group.
I am Abi and my dad is a flight sergeant in the
RAF. I have lived in 6 places some of which
are Cyprus, Gibraltar and Spain. We are both
members of HMS Heroes.
HMS Heroes is a network of schools across
the UK and world that provide support and
understanding to young people from service
families...for me personally, HMS Heroes
provided a lot of support when my dad was
serving in Afghanistan. It really helped talking
to people who also had parents serving I
Afghan….it is also lots of fun and a great way
to make friends.
I am Phoebe. My dad is a padre in the armed
forces. I have lived in 7 places including
London, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
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Bedale Primary School and RAF Leeming
Primary School
Outwood Academy, Ripon
Lauren got her name in print in the Royal
British Legion’s Legion Life magazine with
some lovely words about her mum in an article
about military mums for Mothers’ Day:
Heroes attended 90 Signals Unit Homecoming
parade in Bedale in March commemorating 13
years of continuous operational duty deployed
on operations in Afghanistan.
My name is Lauren , I am 16 years old and I
have a sister called Shona. Our mum is a
military wife, and she has been for 23 years.
My mum isn't my mum, she is my mummy and
my best friend who I can go to for
everything...whether it's for a chat or even for
a hug. We know what each other is thinking
even before they can say it, this is the bond
between a mother and daughter and no one
can take that away from you. My mum is really
special, she is really strong because she has
to be for me and my sister Shona who is aged
19 whilst my dad is away on courses and
whilst he is deployed overseas in places such
as Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst my dad is
away, my mum is both parents...she cooks,
cleans and even if she is feeling brave she
tries to tackle the computer. This makes our
bond stronger because it's only my mum,
sister and me together for 7 months at a time.
These past two years have been difficult with
school, and with deployments but my mum
was always there...always. I am proud to say I
love her, and that military wives make the best
mums! Xxx
Bedale High School
Heroes were treated to a scary day out at York
Dungeons and some spent the afternoon
gardening at Thorpe Perrow. Members are
planning a residential weekend away in the
summer term.
Catterick Garrison
HMS Heroes in Catterick Garrison have had
an exciting term! We have moved into our
new ‘Heroes Base’, in the AWS buildings on
Smuts Road and are planning how to decorate
the walls so that everyone knows we’re there!
Debbie Jinks, manager of the Hipswell Habitat
that our ‘Heroes Base’ is in has given us some
raised beds which we are hoping to plant
some flowers and possibly vegetables in.
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Brompton on Swale Primary School
Paddington has arrived at Brompton on Swale
C of E Primary School.
"Brompton on Swale C of E Primary School
HMS Heroes have a new mascot called
Paddington. He is a small bear with a big heart
that has been chosen to come and be part of
Brompton on Swales HMS heroes.
HMS Heroes in the Garrison are forging
PenPal links with children in schools in Cyprus
and Germany before their postings back to the
UK. HMS Heroes in the Garrison are doing
their best to let the children in Cyprus and
Germany know that Catterick Garrison is a
great place to live and we’re all quite friendly!
The children chose which bear they wanted
and what outfit he would wear. He has two
outfits up to now a camouflage shirt and
trouser and a pair of stripy PJ's.
We are busy planning our VE Day
Celebrations which are set to take place on
th
Friday 8 May at Le Cateau Primary School.
The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps and
the REME Band are coming to entertain us
and, with a lot of support from the Garrison, we
will have army vehicles and some soldiers for
the HMS Heroes of the Garrison to investigate
and interrogate!
Paddington gets to go home with different
children. He visits each family for a few nights
and he has a diary that the children fill out
about the adventures they have with him.
Paddington has been on some great
adventures over the last few months visiting
many different homes and doing lots of things.
10
And finally, the bouquet goes to…
RAF Leeming Community Primary School
Congratulations to Head Teacher Mr Adam Pritchard-Jenkins and the team at RAF Leeming Primary
School who have received a Deputy Commanders’ Team Commendation for Meritous Service. The
award is in recognition of the pastoral and welfare support of the pupils at RAF Leeming Primary
School during significant mobility and active service deployment. Keep up the good work!
RAF Linton-on-Ouse Primary School
Email to Head Teacher, Mrs McLoughlin from a serving mum of 2 from the Falkland Islands:
Thu February 12 2015
Hello!
I just wanted to reply with a little note to let you know how much I appreciate these letters I am getting
from the children at the school. You can’t know how much it makes me happy knowing that they have
such a supportive school that has kept us strong as a family. I especially appreciate the picture you
added in the most recent one and the bears that you have loaned the boys. Every time I skype them
at least one of them has one under an arm or snuggled up on the settee. It obviously makes a
difference to them.
Again thank you very much to you and the whole school for your support through this difficult time for
us as a family. I hope one day I can repay this good deed by helping out through the year whenever I
am needed.
Kind regards to all at Linton Primary
HMS Heroes - Bedale Cluster
Email from visiting students from Casterton Business Enterprise College and Sian Ponting,
Community Integration Officer from Rutland Council November 2014:
Thank you so much for your warm welcome last week. Our visit did exactly what I had hoped it would
– give the young people I brought an idea of HMS Heroes and what you do, and inspire them to
consider how it could work here. They all had a really good day, and learned a lot. One of the young
people said the thing they enjoyed most was meeting other young people who are experiencing the
same situations as they are, he felt it was really helpful to him to know that.
For me, it was fantastic to see how you work in the area, bringing schools together and supporting
them to develop Heroes to meet the needs of their situations. I have some good ideas on how we,
and I can go forward now, and am keen to get on! I will also be looking at that grant, and using your
model to propose something similar here.
I hope we can stay in touch, and when we are up and running here I would love to invite you and
your group to visit us.
Many thanks once again,
Sian
Thank you for all you do in support of our Service Pupils!
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Accessing further support
All schools in North Yorkshire can access the project’s resources, together with a range of other
support materials, from Fronter https://fronter.com/northyorks in the North Yorks: Service
Children in Schools and Settings room. Schools are also reminded of the excellent resources
available through Service Children’s Education www.sceschools.com/home.php including their
Mobility Toolkit www.serviceschoolsmobilitytoolkit.com/default.asp and deployment support
http://www.sce-web.com/page/?title=Deployment&pid=94
Contact details
If you are interested in any of the work being carried out in North Yorkshire, would like to find
out more information, or would like to share information about exciting practice in your
school, please contact one of the following:
Contact
Role
Email address
Annabel Hall
[email protected]
07816648163
Service Pupils’ Champion (RAF Leeming, RAF
Linton on Ouse, Claro Barracks, Alanbrooke
Barracks, Dishforth Airfield , AFC Harrogate)
Nickie Young
Service Pupils’ Champion (Catterick Main)
[email protected]
Janet Bates
Principal Adviser 11-19
[email protected]
Matt Blyton
Lead Adviser 0-11 / SCISS link / Primary
Leadership group member
[email protected]
Katharine
Bruce
Lead Adviser, Health and Wellbeing / Secondary
Leadership group member
[email protected]
Shauna
Liptrott
Lead Adviser, EYFS Children’s Centres
[email protected]
Ruth Mason
Education Development Adviser, vulnerable learners
(0-5) Early Years group member
[email protected]
Keeley
Ungerechts
Early Years group chair
[email protected]
Natalie
Wiltshire
Primary Leadership group chair
[email protected]
Andrew
Thomson
Secondary Leadership group chair
[email protected]
07429007085
CEAS can be contacted as follows:
By post: Portakabin 8, Trenchard Lines, Upavon, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 6BE
By telephone: 01980 618244
By email: [email protected] By fax: 01980 618245 / Web site: www.mod.uk/ceas
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