The bidding round for the Education Support Fund applications opens on Monday 1 June 2020 and now service parents are being encouraged to raise awareness of the scheme at the school in which their children are studying.
About the Education Support Fund (ESF)
2011 saw the launch of the Ministry of Defence’s Education Support Fund (ESF), which has been made available to assist publicly funded schools, Academies and Free Schools throughout the UK to mitigate the effects of exceptional mobility and/or deployment of their Service communities; Regular Armed Forces, including Reserves on Full Time commitment (FTRS FC).
The Directorate Children & Young People (DCYP) is the MOD’s professional focal point for all matters relating to children and young people associated with the Armed Forces; DCYP is the lead organisation supporting and administering the ESF.
2021 ESF
Applications for the 2021 ESF can be accepted from Monday 1 June 2020 and the bidding round will close at 1200hrs on Wednesday 7 October 2020. HQs/units and Service parents are encouraged to ensure that Schools, Academies and Free Schools in their area are aware of the ESF. Advertising posters are distributed widely, and a copy is available on Gov.uk.
Eligibility. Applications can be accepted from any UK maintained school, Academy or free school with Service children on roll, or from Local Authorities on behalf of the schools in their region. Schools may also join and submit cluster bids.
For the purpose of the ESF, a Service child is a dependent child of a Regular member of the Armed Forces. Reservist children do not qualify, unless one (or both) parent is a member of the Full Time Reserve Service on Full Commitment (FTRS FC). Veterans’ children do not qualify.
Further information (including the application pack) is available on Gov.uk.