Guidance

Service Pupil Premium (SPP) further information

Updated 19 May 2023

Transfer of Service pupil premium

if a child moves after the autumn census date, SPP is not transferable. The funding will remain with the losing school and the receiving school will not be able to claim SPP for the child until after the next autumn census date (first Thursday in October).

SPP payment

The £310 a school receives for each service child does not go directly to the individual child, but will be used to support all service children at the school, even if they were not on the school roll on census day.

Children of divorced parents

If the child is still living permanently with the service parent following a divorce, the school should continue to record the child as a service child on the school roll to claim SPP.

If the child is no longer living with the service parent following a divorce, the school will still receive SPP provided the child had been recorded as a service child in any school census from 2016 up until the time of the divorce. They will be counted as the ‘ever 6 measure’ for up to 6 years or until the end of year 11, whichever comes first.

When a child has not been recorded as a service child in any school census from 2016 prior to a divorce, and the child no longer lives with the service parent, the school cannot claim SPP for that child even if the parent is still serving.

Step children

Step children of serving personnel are eligible to receive SPP as per the Department for Education (DfE) school census.

A child must live with their service parent to be eligible for SPP. A child, where the service parent is the main carer and even if they are not the biological parent, is also eligible.

As long as the service person has parental responsibility within the terms of the Children Act 1989 for a child(ren), and satisfies all of the conditions of the PStat 2 category, schools will be able to claim SPP for the child.

Military Provost Guard Service and reservists

Schools cannot claim SPP for children of the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) or reservists as they are not regular service personnel. There are 2 exceptions to this:

1. If an MPGS or reservist parent previously served as a member of the regular services, and their children were recorded as service children on a school census since 2016 (whilst serving) eligibility would automatically continue. The school will continue to receive SPP under DfE’s ‘ever 6 measure’ for up to 6 years or until the end of year 11, whichever comes first.

2. If the parent is a member of the full time reserve service (FTRS) on full commitment (FC), schools can record those children as service children on the school roll. FTRS FC personnel are classed as regular service personnel and are fully deployable.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)

Children with parents in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) do not qualify for SPP. The RFA is a civilian manned organisation.

Exchange personnel

SPP does not extend to the children of those who are on a non-reciprocal exchange. A child would only be eligible if the parent was serving in an exchange appointment within a UK military unit under a formal Status of forces agreement. This excludes any individual attending training in the UK, or part of embassy staff, for instance.

Schools claiming SPP and PP for the same child

Schools can claim for both SPP and PP for the same child. Guidance from the DfE is:

If they meet the criteria for both then they are entitled to both. A proportion of service pupils have been receiving both for some time.

Devolved UK nations

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own administrations and therefore have different arrangements.

PP in Northern Ireland is sourced differently and is applied for in October each year.

Service children in independent schools or MOD schools are not eligible for SPP.

Identification requirements

The decision to declare service status to a school is the decision of the individual parent. It is considered that if an individual decides to do this, it is reasonable for the school to ask for identification. The easiest way to seek identification is to ask for the individual to show their military identification (ID) card.

Validity of the ID card

Held by all serving members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force (who may be aged 16 or 17), and by members of the reserve forces. The expiry date of the card appears at the bottom right.

Size of the ID card

ID cards are approximately 85 x 53 mm (credit card size).

Personal details recorded on the ID card

The holder’s name, rank, date of birth and height appear on the left of the card. The holder’s service number is reproduced at the top centre. The holder’s photograph is also included.

Holder’s photograph

A crown is superimposed over the bottom left of the holder’s photograph.

Holder’s signature

There is no requirement for a military ID card to be signed.

Holographic feature

The holographic feature at the top left is the MOD badge. This is made up of the fouled anchor of the Royal Navy, the crossed swords of the army and the eagle of the RAF, contained within a circle of laurel leaves and surmounted by the Royal crown.