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Article for ‘The Guardian’ - Can you help –

There is to be an article in the family section of ‘The Guardian’ on what it is like to be brought up in a forces family. The article talks to family members from all three services but still needs to understand the experiences of children growing up in a naval family.

They are particularly interested in speaking to boys, aged between 10-12 years, as they do not yet have enough information from this category.
The sorts of questions that will be asked are: In what ways do you keep in contact with the serving person while they are away? Are you close to other forces families? Do you go to a regular school or a forces school and what is it like?

The conversational interview will be done over the phone with parental consent. If you would like to take part please contact Jo Mears on: 013 0650 1830.

Hello everyone,

We are trying to gather some information on access to dentistry and would very much appreciate it if you could take a minute to answer the poll on the homepage of our website.

Thank you!

Hello, just to let you know that there is a comment on our breaking news section from the Minister of the Armed Forces, on the response to the Royal Anglian parade through Luton on Wednesday, which may be of interest to you.

The NFF is excited to announce that at close of play today we will be uploading our new website to this address.

The process will take up to 24 hours; please bear with us during the transition period as you may experience difficulties accessing the website and message boards.

Thank you for your patience and we hope you enjoy the new website!

Hi Emma - I have spoken to our JPA "expert" and he has offered a way forward. Could you email me directly on admin@nff.org.uk and give me your husband's name/service number/UPO please and your permission for me to pass this on? Thanks. Jackie

We have submitted a claim on JPA in December for our daughters CEA(Board) for the 2nd time. On return from Xmas leave the money had not been paid as the UPO wanted a receipt but did not contact us to request this.
The school faxed the relevant details to the UPO and the claim had been approved for payment on the 8th Jan.

This did not happen and following some more visits to them we were told that it would definitely be paid by the 6th February. The school are understandably not happy with this and have told us that unless the money is not paid this week then they are going to be charging daily interest beginning 1st February.

Following calls to Glasgow (JPAC) it transpires that the claim has not even been actioned at unit level and is likely to miss the final window for payment. As a result furher interest will be applied and we are being told that it will not be paid at all this term if the window is missed (which is looking very likely).

Could you possibly offer any advice or contact details of where we can take this higher as no one appears to have any answers or interest in the situation. We are obviously worried as it is damaging relations with the school who want their money and the staff we spoke to seem to think that we will be liable for the interest incurred which we cannot afford in any way nor should have to pay as the errors are not on our part.

Any help would be gratefully received

Regards

test

Wow such a fast rosponse. I have emailed you and thanks again.

sanfrompompey

Can you email me on admin@nff.org.uk. We have a great point of contact in Naples who will be able to help with your questions. I just need a way of passing on your questions.

Kim

Need pointing in the right direction. We are being posted to Naples next Easter. Nothing like the present to start some research. My daughter will be 17 next month, she has global delay with complex medical problems. This will be our second exchange first place was Australia. Oh boy did we go through some red tape and some. The SCE only assists with children up to six form age. If i enrol her in the local school she will only spend a few months before she reaches 18. Do you know or know a man who does who knows where young adults with special needs go once they leave school in Naples (if any place at all) The reasearch i have done seems to only cover an American high school up to the age of 18. I am aware of the language barrier. Thanks in advance for any advise.

Hi Lisa

The HIVE at Thorney Island should be able to help.
Contact details below:

Alexandra Newton
Thorney Island HIVE
47 Fd Regt RA
Baker Barracks
Thorney Island
Emsworth
Hants
PO10 8DH

Email: thorneyisland@hivegb.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 01243 388308
Mil: (9)4295 Ext 8308

Opening Hours: Mon - Fr: 0900 - 1300hrs

Let me know if you need anything else.

Kim

Help ... I need some feedback on schools in the Emsworth area, namely Emsworth Primary, Thorney Island and Southbourne Infant and Junior ... having read all of their OFSTED reports I really don't want to send my children to any of them! I'm besides myself, with sorting everything out for the move ... I really don't need this to add to my worries!

Hi Jackie - thanks for the support, however, we didn't get them into the local school! Absolutely gutted, just searching now to see if there is anything else I can possibly do to get this decision overturned!

HI Lisa - Good Luck for today!!! Let us know how it goes. So pleased CEAS were able to represent you. Keep in touch - Jackie

Please all wish me luck today ... it's the School Appeal hearing and we have a wonderful lady from the CEAS representing us ... I'm all jittery and soooooo nervous at the outcome ....

hi Erica,
        had a look at the webiste and the stuff on there is great!!!!Wish the charts and games were around at the time my son was diagnosed with ASPERGERS.Brill stuff!!!


natx

Well done Erica,

Have you bought any of the products listed?

Ricardo

GREAT LINK FOR VISUAL AIDS & GAMES
Character and Special Needs Games and Visual aids for Autism,Aspergers,& Special Needs Children
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/SOMEONE-WITH-AUTISM-LOVES-ME

Edited by author 16-09-2007 01:27 PM
Hi Ricardo, we are doing fine out here in Naples. Food is good, weather much better than UK, driving is something you have to get used to!! there doesn't appear to be any road rage regardless of how the locals drive and people are very friendly.


Hope all is well with you in Bonnie Scotland. Give my regards to Christine and Lyn. If you want my email address I am sure Jackie will pass it onto you.

Take care
Sheila

Young Sheila Piper, well I never, how are you getting on out there?

Ricardo

Tania,
Mark Schofield in Naples who works for UKNSU Naples is the point of contact for you to discuss the education that is available in Latina. His contact detail is telephone 0039 081 721 2980, don't forget we are a hour ahead. He will be able to answer any questions you might have. Also your sponser should be able to advise you.
Sheila Piper
Community Welfare Officer
UKNSU Naples
BFPO 8

Contact me on admin@nff.org.uk and I will help you.

Kim

Can someone let me know the best way to get started on this board. I am confused.
I want to post a funny picture from my game.
How do i do this?

Tania, if you haven't done so already, I would advise that you also contact the Service Children's Education Authority who are there to help.
Get them on

Helpline: 01980 618244
08:30 to 17:00 Monday to Thursday
08:30 to 16:30 on Friday

also website at: http://www.sceschools.com/

Hope you have a great time out there!!

Tania,

this is a useful link too:

http://www.uknsunaples.com/index.latina.htm

Tania,

The local HIVE in Italy are the best people to talk to, below is the information and contact details for them. They know lots of local and community info, including schools, housing, sometimes help with job searching too.

Naples HIVE
Community Centre
Lago Patria
c/o HQ JFC
BFPO 8

Email: naples@hivegb.co.uk
Tel: 0039 081 509 2628

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 0830hrs - 1300hrs
Thur: 08:30 - 15:30hrs

Wonder if anyone can help me with info on the schools available in Latina, Italy. We will be going next year and want to find out as much as possible before.

Hi Chris

I am sorry to hear about your dilemma. I am picking this up from home, so my first question is 'Have you asked CEAS (Childrens Education Advisory Service) for advice'? Their contact details can be found at:
http://www.sceschools.com/

If you have already done so, or not managed to get any help, then if you can bear with me I have two other places I can go to ask for some guidance when I am back in office tomorrow.

Having lived in Naples, I know that there is a perception that any overseas posting is all play and no work. I found it to be the other way round! If you would like to contact me away from the message boards, please email me on admin@nff.org.uk.

Kind regards
Kim Richardson

Having a bit of an epic here in Paris - the Service Childrens Education JSP says my daughter is entitled to 12&1/2 hours of english speaking nursery education (she's 4, so in the UK would be in full time education by now)but only to the same limit as a UK nursery (430 pounds per term). The cheapest possible english speaking nursery near us is costing us 1600 pounds per term so we are significantly out of pocket each term and the AFPAA keep telling me they won't provide the shortfall. AFPAA say that in the past people in my situation have been refunded from local sources (i.e. the embassy) but we can't find any proof of this anywhere. Can you help? I know a posting to Paris might seem ideal to some, but its bloody expensive, hard work, and is disadvantaging my children - which I feel is unfair

Bear with us just testing the system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have someone special serving onboard
HMS Echo? HMS Dumbarton Castle?
HMS Edinburgh? HMS Endurance?
HMS Gloucester? HMS Lancaster?
HMS Ocean? HMS Scott?

If yes then Please come along and record your film/radio personal Christmas Message for your loved one, to be broadcast over the Christmas period

Recording will take place at the PHOENIX COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE, SALERNO ROAD, HILSEA -on Tuesday 12th December 2006 between 1500 & 2000hrs

Maureen: 02392 696122 LYNDA: 02392 524511

To all subscribers. Heres something fun and educational for the kids to do and it might win them a new bike! www.hedgehogs.gov.uk

Just to let you all know theres a new message board please view it and add your part of the story ... k8x

Hi everyone - just to say that if you log on to our Home Page, you will see a new item under Breaking News linking you to the 2006 questionnaire - Families' Continuous Attitude Survey. If you are interested in taking part in the Families' CAS then now is your chance to have your say! You can complete the form on-line or print it off, fill in by hand and post it off. If you do decide to take part, the date has been extended for the electronic version - you will have until the end of August to submit it. Why not have a go? Jackie

Hello there everyone.

I just wanted to let you know that due to popular demand we have introduced a new message board - recipes! Log onto the website and go to the message board drop down menu to find it. We have two posts for homemade lemonade and a Chilled Chocolate Crumb Cake so far. Mmmmmmmmmm!

Bella - I am waiting for the Maltese cheesecake recipe. Where are you???

Kim

Ladies - please ignore this message! We have a problem with our computer system at work and this is a test to see if things are now working as they should. Jackie

Hi Nat

Not sure on this one, but am looking into it.

Thanks
Kim

erm ...............does anyone know what the last message posted was about??soz don't understand.

Tuqio au kerea ke ko rawa ni qiri mada mai i vale pliz!!

Hello there everybody.

I do hope you had a good summer. We continue to work on the website with the expertise, advice and guidance of our webmaster, David Rogerson.

Please log on and continue to talk to us. Let us know how things are with you and what you feel strongly about.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards
Kim

Hello everyone

I just wanted to let you know that we will be undertaking work on the website over the summer and as a consequence the message boards will be suspended.

Should you wish to contact us all other options are still available - email admin@nff.org.uk
            telephone 023 9265 4374
            fax 023 9265 3862
            contact form - follow link from home page

We will also be adopting reduced hours over August, should you require help in an emergency then please follow the link from the home page.

I would like to wish those of you who have families around you a long and restful summer. And for those of you with loved ones away from home - I wish you a short, busy, fully occupied summer.

Kind regards
Kim and the NFF team

Greetings Marie
I believe Kim has the right approach for this one and also the idea of having a lists is very important - bullet points of things you need to cover and with who.
Thinking back to parents evenings, they could be very puzzling affairs. Many teachers seemed to have poor short term memory, forgetting my name by the second sentence and then mixing up which child they were talking about, not too surprising when you see the pile of documentation on the desk and the massive queues of Mums and Dads awaiting their timeslots. It's much better in my opinion to get an appointment when they are less harassed.
As Natchica points out, NPFS can be a big help to get things moving and normally have a social worker with experience in special needs, see www.rncom.mod.uk/.
Keep up the good work Marie

Ricardo
NPFS/RMW Advice Service (N)
01436 679526

HI MARIE,
         We went thru something similar a few years ago b4 my son was diagnosed as having aspergers syndrome.The school did nothing to help the situation just comments like "is naughty blaa blaa blaa"We decided to go direct to LEA ,and with LEA and our npfs social worker things started moving!
      He is now in senior school y10 and gets 10 hrs a week support and is doing well!every year we have annual reviews and discuss any problems!A target plan is set in stone every year of what targets are to be met.It took as nealry 4 years ad finally we got the support he needed!
good luck to u hun and all the best with your daughter.
love natxx

Hi Marie

Over anxious Mum? I disagree. I would have said a caring and very responsible Mum who is asking some very good questions.

On parents evening you may like to consider doing the follwing:

Arrive promptly at the start of the evening and approach the Head of Year when you see she has a space. Ask if she has a spare appointment for that evening. If she hasnt, ask her to make a note of your name and say you would like to arrange to come into school to see her.

When you do see her I would suggest that you ask her for a report from the subject teachers you havent been able to get appointments for - may be worth having a list with you to help the process. Express your concerns about your daughters progress and ask for her comments - remind her about the information you provided at the start of the school year.

Ask if there is anybody else the Head of Year feels may be worth talking to about your concerns. My childrens schools and the school I worked in prior to taking up this job both had SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) - they are very knowledgeable and helpful people and may be just the right person to give you some guidance. The term 'Special Education' really means those children who need a bit of specialised guidance and specific help in certain areas.

I am sure that when you have all your information to hand and sit down to discuss your concerns that the way forward will be one of working together to give your daughter the support and help she needs.

Keep in touch and let me know how you get on. I have some other thoughts if this route proves unsatisfactory, but this is a good way to start.

Good luck!

Kim

do not know if you can help but I do not know where to go or if I am being an over anxious mum!

My daughter went up to senior school nearly 2 years ago, and because I was worried that she was lagging behind, and her junior school said not to worry, I paid for her to go privately to an educational psychicologist, who said she was average to below average, and that her short term memory in particular was poor. Yet her reading and writing skills were that of a 16 year old (she was 10 at the time)and good to above average.

I felt justified in sending her there and passed a copy of this report on to her new school, with this persons comments for what my daughter would need from the school.

Yet instead of going forward she seems to be standing still or worse still going backwards. I have just had this years report, and for one subject alone, last year she had a grade 7 and was well ahead, yet this year she has slipped back to a grade 3. The school do not seem to have implemented any of the things that were recommmended to them, and I am frustrated with asking what is going on.

Her report said she is inconsistent and unsatisfactory in some subjects yet in others she is excellent. Comments like 'she needs to listen carefully to what she is told', and 'I find myself repeating things', I don't think she is all innocent, and is a chatterbox, but she assures me that 2 teachers in particular , when she says 'I do not understand' loose their patience with her, and said I have explained twice now stop making excuses and get on with it, she quite often comes home in tears, saying she did not understand and feels she has been picked on, and is getting a name as a lazy trouble maker, (I wonder if some of it is boredom) when I feel she is just struggling to remember, what she has just been told.

I have parents evening on Tuesday so any help in what I should be asking/saying would be gratefully received. As my daughter has 16 subject teachers, her tutor, her head of year, and her head teacher all available for me to see, yet I am only allowed to make an appointment with just 8 of them.

Kim feel free to add this to any other board if you feel somebody else could help me, or may like to know the answer to my problem in case it could help some one else.

many thanks

There's a new item on Breaking News on our Home Page about Boarding School Allowance. Did you know that a new certificate of entitlement is required if you are claiming Boarding School Allowance? Go to Breaking News to find out all the information. Jackie

Kim

I asked him last night about who is funding the post and he has no idea!!! I've emailed the guy that he is taking over from to see how he went about exactly the same problem.

Lisa

Hi Lisa

If your husband doesnt have the answer to this one come back to us and we will investigate.

Kim

Jackie

How would I know who is funding this posting to Singapore?

Lisa

Hello again Lisa - Have made some more enquiries on your behalf:

CEAS recommend that you approach the people who are funding the appointment to Singapore and ask them for the Nursery Allowance - it may just be a Nursery Allowance you can obtain at the moment which was £437 per term but this may have gone up a little. You have to claim on a DCI General 159 which should be available in the Admin Unit or on the web. This needs to be sent to the Nursery Allowance Dept in HQSCE, Building 5, Wegberg Military Complex, BFPO 40.

CEAS explained that the legal requirement here is that you don't have to send your child to school until the term after they are 5, although obviously a lot of parents choose to send them earlier. She also suggested it might be worth asking the people funding the appointment abroad if they are willing to pay for the schooling - always worth checking as they may say yes! If they want you there as a family and a happy unit they might be prepared to contribute. Good luck - keep us posted. Jackie

Jackie

I have been in contact with the CEAS. The CO in Singapore has told me to steer well clear of them!!! To tell you the truth I didn't find them that helpful at all.

All I want to know is why should I have to pay for my daughter's education in Singapore for the first two terms of Reception Year. The CEAS did mention that maybe they will change their rules and recognise Reception Year of schooling, but what is the likliehood of that!!! I just want to get everything sorted before we get out there in July/August!

Hi Lisa

Have you tried CEAS (Children's Education Advisory Service) and asked them for guidance at all? They should be best placed to advise you - Tel: 01980 618244 (address/website etc details feature at bottom of this page in a message from Vicky, Fareham HIVE). If you have been to CEAS already, could you please let us know and we'll make further enquiries on your behalf.

Jackie

Hi

I posted a while ago about schooling in Singapore. We have made contact with the CO out there and he advises going via the Overseas Unit. However, it still looks like we will have to pay about $800 per term!

Can you tell me, is it likely that the MOD will actually realise that children do start school at 4 years old (Reception Year) and not always when they are 5.

Belinda

It may also be worth getting in touch with Heidi at SSAFA

The Special Needs and Disability Adviser
19 Queen Elizabeth Street
London
SEI 2LP

Tel:020 7463 9234
heidi.d@ssafa.org.uk

Ricardo
NPFS & RM Welfare Advice Service
01436 679526

Hi Belinda

Have you been in touch with the Children's Education Advisory Service CEAS (Formerly SCE.Service childrens education)?

CEAS
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wiltshire SN9 6BE

Tel: 01980 618244
Mil: (94344) 8244
Fax: 01980 618245
Fax Mil: (94344) 8245

E-mail: enquiries.ceas@gtnet.gov.uk

They can give support on all Service children's education and specialise in special needs. I am sure you will not be on your own regarding this,

I hope that this helps

Vicky
Fareham HIVE

My son is autistic and due to start mainstream school in September 2005, we have applied for statutory assessment but have failed at this stage, we are currently about to go to appeal and have been told at the same time to resubmit evidence in May. Is there anybody looking at this message been through this or currently going through the same problems?

Thanks for all that info I will let you know if I need any more help

Hi Liz

Regarding your query about where to apply for Disabled Living Allowance - a good place to find out more about it is on the Department for Work and Pensions website, www.dwp.gov.uk. Click on "Benefits & Services A-Z", then select "D" -"Disability Living Allowance for Children under age 16". It explains all about it in there. If you are near your DSS Office/Post Office then you can go in and ask for a "DLA1 Child" claim pack, or phone the benefit enquiry line on 0800 882200. Another very good website (which you are most probably already aware of) is the National Autistic Society one - www.nas.org.uk. This seems to cover very well any queries you may have about Autism. It also covers allowances - click on "how to get help" / information sheets / Care Services and Benefits / A-Z list of NAS Information Sheets / then select "Am I or the Person I care for entitled to Welfare Benefits?". A bit long-winded but this section then details all the benefits and allowances that you may be entitled to, so could prove useful too.

Hope all this info helps you Liz. Jackie

should be Jessica isn't aggestive.

Liz

Hi

I saw the pead just before Christmas and I have a diagises for Jessica it goes like this....

Learning disability
Statmant of Specael needs
Autistic spectum disorder

She said that I should apply for Disabile living alloace, okay where do I go for that?

Also another problem is that the school are very good but I was told by the head teacher that Jessica is agresive that was put in her notes she can be very nasty to people but doesn't hit out(she was before Christmas). They also don't think she is autistic as she is only very mildly so to me they have discounted it. So I am not a happy person at the moment.

Liz

Are you experiencing problems finding a school for your child?

Do you want to know how the boarding school process works?

Do you have a child with special educational needs with or without a statement (record of need in Scotland)?

Please use the message board to discuss any issue related to education and special needs and help others in a similar situation.