Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education
Today, I am pleased to confirm that I am expanding the definition of the term ‘service child’ used to determine eligibility for Welsh Government support. These changes will mean more children and young people from Armed Forces and veteran families can access help from April 2026.
Wales is committed to upholding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, ensuring that those who serve and their families face no disadvantage in accessing public services. Service life can bring unique challenges for children, including disrupted schooling, breaks in social support, delays in accessing Additional Learning Needs provision as well as the emotional impact of parental deployment.
At present, Welsh Government support is delivered primarily through Supporting Service Children in Education (SSCE) Cymru. However, we have considered the definition of who qualifies for support and determined it is too narrow, particularly regarding children of veterans.
Following engagement with stakeholders including SSCE Cymru, the WLGA, Armed Forces Family Federations, and the Ministry of Defence Covenant Team, I have agreed to broaden the definition of a service child. From April 2026:
- children of veterans will be eligible for support for up to six years after their parent leaves service (an increase from the current two years), aligning Wales with the definition used in England; and
- eligibility will extend to young people up to the age of 18, reflecting the Armed Forces Covenant duty.
These changes will ensure greater parity across the UK, increase clarity for families moving between nations, and better reflect the ongoing impact service life can have on children and young people.
We recognise that we need a clearer picture of the number of children who will fall under the revised definition. Work is also underway to explore options for more robust data collection.
Now more than ever, in an uncertain world, we recognise the debt of gratitude we owe those who choose to serve the nation and the Welsh Government remains committed to ensuring that their children in Wales are recognised, supported and given every opportunity to thrive throughout their education journey.