Read the guidance on education overseas for service children to find out whether there is a DCS school or nursery in the area you are posted to overseas. You will also find contact details for each DCS school and nursery.
Overseas schooling
If your child accompanies you on an overseas tour, the MOD will provide for their education in a Defence Children Services (DCS) school or nursery or, if one isn’t available, we will pay for them to be educated in a local school or nursery
Eligibility check:
Am I eligible?
This benefit is available for Regular Service personnel, including MPGS, Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) and entitled civilians.
What’s it for?
This is to ensure that your children have access to education (including early years and childcare) when they accompany you on an overseas tour
What do I get?
Overseas DCS schools and nurseries mirror the English education system, including Ofsted inspections, assessments and examinations. This allows pupils to move from our overseas schools and nurseries to UK based ones with the minimum amount of disruption. DCS schools and nurseries work closely with UK schools and local authorities to ensure information is shared to support the varying needs of pupils.
Where no DCS school or nursery is available, your child’s education can be provided either by local state schools or by schools from the independent or international school sector.
In countries where the first language is English, your child is normally expected to attend local state provided schooling.
How do I claim this?
1
Find out if there's an DCS school or nursery
2
If not, find a suitable one
Where there is no DCS school or nursery, you should complete your own research into the educational options available. Educational suitability reviews for a number of locations have been produced by the Education Policy Team which outlines the available schooling options. You can also contact the Education Policy Team at people-affs-education-mailbox@mod.gov.uk or the Overseas Education and Supportability Team at RC-DCS-HQ-OES@mod.gov.uk for further advice and guidance
3
Submit parental declaration form
Once you have found a suitable school, you need to complete and submit an OES 101 form (found in the travel pack issued by Families Section) to the Overseas Education and Supportability Team. Their email address is: RC-DCS-HQ-OES@mod.gov.uk.
You will also need to submit either an OES 102, 103, or 104 form at the same time (these can also be found in the travel pack):
an OES Form 102 should be completed if your child is currently at school /sixth form/college.
an OES Form 103 should be completed if your child of pre-school age.( 0-5) If your child attends nursery or a childminder, please ask your child’s current setting/childminder to complete the form. If your child is not yet in any early years provision the form should be completed by the parent.
an OES Form 104 should be completed if your child is currently being Electively Home Educated, the parent with responsibility for providing the Elective Home Education, should complete the form.
4
Reclaim expenses where no DCS school or nursery
Once you have obtained confirmation of supportability, if your child is not attending a DCS school or nursery, then requests for refunds of fees/expenses expenses should be submitted through your Chain of Command, other than requests for Special Education Needs and Disability support, Language tuition fees and catch up lessons. For these you should contact the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST) at RC-DCS-HQ-OES@mod.gov.uk who will be able to advise you. More information can be found in JSP 342, chapter 4
4
Need help?
If you need assistance, you can contact the Overseas Education and Supportability Team at RC-DCS-HQ-OES@mod.gov.uk
Page last updated: 23 January 2024
Need more information?
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JSP 342 - education of Service children
read more about the education of Service children in JSP 342