§ 26. Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to improve access to schools for service families. [104560]
§ 27. Dr. George TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve access to schools for service families. [104561]
§ Mr. SpellarThe inter departmental Service Families Task Force has achieved considerable success in improving access to schools for Service families. The Department for Education and Employment has, for the54W first time, made specific reference to Service children in their Code of Practice on Schools Admission. The Code directs local education authorities and school admission authorities to ensure that the needs of Service children are taken into account by considering inviting Service Children's Education, an MOD agency, to their Admission Forum. The Service Children's Education agency is now either a formal member, or is in attendance, on 16 Admission Forums for areas in England where there are large numbers of Service children. The Code of Practice also requires admission authorities to be sensitive to the position of children of parents returning from working abroad, such as Service personnel.