TRI-Service charity Little Troopers has launched a new educational initiative after a survey highlighted the school-related challenges faced by children in military families.
Little Troopers at School, which will provide assistance to parents and teachers, has been launched after the organisation’s survey found that families had moved an average of six times; in one case, a 15-year-old had lived in 12 different houses and their six-year-old sibling had lived in five houses.
According to the research, the biggest issues with moving schools are changes between the educations systems in different countries and counties, catching up with the curriculum in each school and struggling to make new friends.
Louise Fetigan, founder and operations manager at Little Troopers said: “My daughter has had five different schools in the last five years due to our military movements and I have seen first-hand how hard this can be. Little Troopers at School is a new project to empower parents and help schools to ensure Service children are supported as best they can be in education settings.”
The survey found that 95 per cent of those who responded had chosen a local state school to educate their children, and that families and education settings need support with moving schools and gaining a better understanding of the Service Pupil Premium (available in England only).
Supporting Service children
The charity’s website features a set of useful information sheets that are free to download, covering topics including:
- Service Pupil Premium
- Moving schools
- Challenges faced by military children
- The effects of separation
- Best practice