THE CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION ALLOWANCE (BOARDING) (formerly the Boarding School Allowance)
The Continuity of Education Allowance (Boarding) (CEA (Board)) – formerly the Boarding School Allowance (BSA) – is a provision for service personnel who opt to educate their children in a UK boarding school.
The allowance is to provide continuity of education for children who would otherwise have to move frequently from school to school due to parental postings. The CEA (Board) does not cover the full cost of fees. Parents must make a compulsory contribution of a minimum of 10 per cent, even when the fees are less than the full rate of CEA (Board). In the case of more expensive schools parents may find themselves ‘topping up’ CEA (Board) by as much as 75 per cent of the actual school fees. There will also be significant costs to cover school uniform, visits, etc.
The purpose of this summary is to give information on the main financial aspects of boarding education.
Eligibility
All Service Personnel should refer to their pay authority to establish
their entitlement to claim CEA (Board). It is also necessary for all claimants
to apply to CEAS for a Boarding School Certificate. This verifies that
you have sought advice with regard to Boarding School Education, prior
to placing your children in a Boarding School. Education allowances do
not normally commence for children under the age of 8 years of age. Initial
claims may be allowed for the academic year in which the child reaches
the age of 8. However you are advised to refer to your pay authority in
order to clarify you entitlement. Children then qualify for CEA (Board)
up to the age of 18 years. However, in exceptional circumstances the relevant
single Service MOD Personnel Branch can authorise payment up to 19 years
of age.
There is a list of schools which attract the CEA (Board). This list is
held by Pay Offices and CEAS. Schools on the list fulfil basic requirements.
It should be noted that they are not necessarily good schools or that
they are recommended by CEAS. Once you have sought advice from CEAS and
have selected a school you should apply to CEAS to be issued with a certificate
which you should take to your local pay or personnel office. Your child’s
birth certificate and notification of the fees, or a bill for the first
term should be submitted with your initial claim. Subsequent claims should
be accompanied by the receipted bill for the previous term.
The responsibility for applying for the allowance each term rests with
the parent. Application should be made in good time, (normally 6 weeks)
to ensure the allowance is paid before you are required to pay the school.
The allowance is normally paid by the 31st August, 31st December, and
14th April each year. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that
his child’s school bills are paid by the due date.
It is a Service offence to use the allowance for any other purpose than
that for which it is paid.
Moving schools
The CEA (Board) is solely to help a Service parent provide continuity
of education for their child. A parent who removes a child from his/her
school without authority may forfeit future CEA (Board) entitlement, and
be asked to refund funds already received. There may be special circumstances
which justify moving the child from a school.
The main ones are:
-
ill heath, unhappiness or expulsion
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a substantial and unanticipated increase in fees
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a substantial alteration in curriculum and/or standards
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closure or radical alteration of boarding provision.
Weekly Boarding
CEA (Board) may be claimed for weekly boarding. However, where only Weekly
boarding is provided you should ensure that suitable arrangements can
be made for weekends, should you be posted overseas. In these circumstances
you would not be able to change school to one offering termly boarding.
Sixth-form college, tutorial college, colleges
of FE
As long as these establishments provide satisfactory boarding/residential
accommodation and appear on the admissible list, payment of CEA (Board)
is eligible.
Guardian’s Allowance
If your child attends a day school while living with relatives or guardian,
you may be eligible to claim Guardian’s Allowance. The provision for claiming
the Allowance is the same as for claiming a CEA (Board). The Allowance
is not payable if your child is living at home with you.
Children’s visits to parents serving overseas
Children up to the age of 18 years at school in UK are entitled to three free return journeys a year to visit their parents serving on accompanied tours overseas. A child over 18 but under 21 who is receiving full-time education is entitled to one free return journey a year. Parents apply for these visits through their overseas unit.
CEA Day
The Day School Allowance was introduced to allow an eligible child, who is attending school as a boarder to become a day pupil at the same school and to live at home, when family circumstances permit, and ensures that continuity of education is maintained. Service parents cannot claim the Allowance unless the child is already in receipt of the Continuity of Education Allowance (Boarding) (CEA (Board)) and has already been boarding for three full terms at the school, and agree that the child will revert back to boarding when they are posted away from the area. You cannot change from a boarding to a day allowance and change schools at the same time. To do this prior authority must be gained from the appropriate policy branch.
Further information |
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Continuity of Education (CEA) (w.e.f. 1 April 2007) |
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School Children Visits |
Yearly |
Various |
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CEA(Board) – Junior |
Term |
£3,695.00 |
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