Service children are children of current or former armed forces personnel. Being a service child can be a source of pride, resilience and determination. Yet service life brings experiences and challenges their civilian peers may not face.

Not all service children lead the same kinds of lives. Some can experience periods of family separation where the serving parent is away from the family home, for example on deployment or training. In the long term, this can disrupt family relationships.

Some may also have to move to different locations in the UK or abroad. For children, this means moving schools and building new relationships with other children and adults.

Research suggests that the more frequently children move schools, the lower their academic attainment may be.

The UK’s Armed Forces Covenant states that armed forces personnel and their families should experience no detriment compared with civilians as a result of their service. For service families whose children have special educational needs and disabilities (Send), this aspiration can feel far removed from their realities.

The intersection of service life with Send presents a unique set of challenges. Having to move home and school can mean disrupting trusted adult relationships and the loss of access to established support. Children will also need to have their support arrangements re-negotiated.

Family separation can mean the non-serving parent taking primary........

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