Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Scottish Government (SG) Learning Directorate (Chair and Minutes)
• Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) Advisor (AA)
• Education Scotland, Inclusion Wellbeing and Equalities (ES)
• Naval Families Federation (NFF)
• Forces Children Scotland (FCS)
• Army Families Federation (AFF)
• RAF Families Federation (RAF-FF)
• MOD Royal Navy Representative (RN)
• MOD Army Representative (AR)

Apologies

• Napier University
• MOD RAF Representative (RAF)
• MOD Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding
• Scottish Government (SG) Safer Communities Directorate

Items and actions

Review of Actions of Previous Meeting

The note of the last meeting was shared for comments and members confirmed they were content it recorded discussions accurately. An action from the previous meeting noted the chair would share the link to the data on armed forces children and young once published as part of the annual pupil census. This information was shared with members.

Safeguarding

Members had nothing to raise on Safeguarding.

Data Collection

Data on Armed Forces Children and Young People was published on 24 March 2026 as part of the annual pupil census collection. Members noted the data has already proved helpful across Local Authorities (LA’s), supporting constructive discussions around the number of children and young people within different local areas. It was suggested this standing item be removed for future meetings. 

Transitions

Following a slight delay in launch the transition resource will officially go live on 12 June 2026. Comms will begin the week following, with materials and links being shared with relevant partners to disseminate and release on social media. This will be soft launch across all 4 nations, with a more formal launch set for the beginning of the next academic year. It was noted it could be useful to record a short standalone podcast to cover the highlights of the resource. Members acknowledged the time and work put in to getting the toolkit published.

As the transitions resource goes live members were asked to consider the future of the transitions sub-group, noting the relations established through the sub-group will still be helpful to retain.

Members Updates

SG noted work is ongoing to secure funding to create a post following the departure of the ADES transitions officer. Members will be updated on any developments.

The ADES Advisor updated that Napier University have agreed to take on the running of the Forces Children Education website. Napier University will provide funding to support that in short term and will meet with web managers to discuss taking that forward. They have noted they would like to update the website to include content on Further/Higher Education transitions. Following the UK Governments White Paper on SEND reform, the ADES Advisor had met with Georgia Gould MP, who expressed a strong interest in developments in Scotland. Calvin Bailey MP has written to the Secretary of State in emphasising the importance of the armed forces Families education dimension.

Education Scotland has engaged with LA’s, chairing the Armed Forces Headteacher forum and the Armed Forces Lead Officers network, it was suggested that these two meetings combine in the future. It was noted that all professional learning being developed now includes information on Armed Forces children.

Forces Children Scotland launched a children’s book co-written with young people titled Max’s Big Move, a book designed to support families and practitioners who work alongside them as they experience change — including the transition to civilian life. Napier University will be hosting an armed forces event “The Big Day Out” on the 27 June 2026 open to the public, which will celebrate the various work young people have led on over the past year.

NFF updated on the Valuing Forces Families Overseas (VFFO) project, highlighting new videos have been launched – a general information video on considering overseas assignments; an information video on what to think about when moving overseas; and finally and information video focussed on children, childcare and education.

AFF shared a link to the Non-UK Service Personnel, Veterans and Families Questionnaire, which aims to better understand the unique immigration challenges faced by non-UK serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Results from will be shared with SAFESG when available.

RAF-FF shared a link to a deployment support guide which was updated in April aimed at families and education practitioners. It was noted they have received enquiries relating to Scotland where families have had struggles in accessing childcare in certain areas.

Any other business

There was no other business raised and the meeting was brought to a close.