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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%, 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% of the actual school fees. There will also be significant costs to cover school uniform, visits, and so on.

The purpose of this summary is to give information on the main financial aspects of boarding education.

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 contact the Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) to obtain a CEA Eligibility Certificate, which is uniquely numbered.

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 eight years of age. Initial claims may be allowed for the academic year in which the child reaches the age of eight, however you are advised to refer to your pay authority in order to clarify your 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 that attract the CEA (Board). This is held by pay offices and the CEAS. Schools on the list fulfil basic requirements. It should be noted that they are not necessarily good schools or recommended by the CEAS. Once you have sought advice from the CEAS and have selected a school you should apply to the 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 six weeks) to ensure the Allowance is paid before you are required to pay the school. The allowance is normally paid by 31 August, 31 December and 14 April each year. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that his/her 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 intended 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 that justify moving the child from a school. The main ones are:

The main ones are:

• • ill heath, unhappiness or expulsion

• • a substantial and unanticipated increase in fees

• • a substantial alteration in curriculum and/or standards

• • 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 a 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 The CEAS can provide specialist advice and assistance on many aspects of education. For further information please contact: -: The Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) Building 190, Trenchard Lines Upavon Pewsey Wiltshire SN9 6BE Tel: 01980 618244 Upavon mil: (94344) 8244 Email: enquiries.ceas@gtnet.gov.uk Website: www.ceas.mod.uk
Continuity of Education (CEA) (w.e.f. 1 August 2008)
School Children Visits	Yearly	Various
CEA(Baord) - Junior CEA(Board) – Senior CEA(SENA) – SP(Specialist Provision) CEA(DAY) – Junior CEA(DAY) – Senior CEA(SENA(DAY)) – Special Needs CEA(Guardians) DSA(NW) – Day School (N Wales) Overseas Schools NOT SCE	Term Term Term Term Term Term Per Day Term Term	£4,338.00 £5,621.00 £8,398.00 £2,556.00 £3,378.00 £5,415.00 £2.85 £2,500.00 Various
For further information consult Joint Service Publication JSP 752 on the MoD website – Chapter 1 Section 6 page 72, Rates of Service Allowances and Chapter 9, Education Allowances - and CEAS Broadsheet Number 3.
There are also many references to the CEA in the parents’ part of the Guide. Please note that when posted overseas the MoD also covers the cost of a first trip to move children to the new family home. Application has to be made direct to the MoD.