Continuity of Education Allowance for Service children

The aim of Continuity of Education Allowance (Board) (CEA(Board)) is to assist Service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their children that would otherwise be denied in the maintained day school sector, due to the mobility of their family as a consequence of consecutive assignments.

Eligibility to claim the allowance is set out in Joint Service Publication 752, part 2, Chapter 9.

To ensure that Service personnel have been advised on the best options for the education of their child, and provided with the information available, they must contact the Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) for advice before an initial application for CEA may be submitted or when any change of school is being planned.

On completion of the advice process, CEAS will provide the Service person with an individually serial numbered CEA Eligibility Certificate (CEA EC) application form for each child for whom they are eligible to claim CEA.

CEAS is part of the MoD’s Directorate of Children and Young People (DCYP) and consists of a small team of educational professionals and advisers who are there to support the parents of all three Services with any issue linked to their children’s education.

The fastest and simplest way to contact CEAS is always by email. The CEAS team will offer support and guidance on the CEA system.

If your child has Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND), this should not stop their admission to a boarding school. In certain limited circumstances an allowance for SEN support may be available and the details are again all contained in JSP 752. It is vital you speak to CEAS regarding this.

We understand that decisions around your child’s education are some of the most profound that you will take as a family. Our message is that by seeking information, advice and guidance at the earliest opportunity you will put yourself in the best position for everything to work well.

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