Twilight Talk: Strengthening provision for Service children with special or additional education needs: Awareness, evidence and action
- Online
- 30 Apr 2026 (16:00 - 17:00)
Children can feel immense pride in having a parent in the Armed Forces. Evidence suggests, however, that the specific nature of the Armed Forces lifestyle presents unique challenges that can amplify the needs of Service children with special or additional education needs or disabilities. Taking place during the Month of the Military Child, this session will present an overview of Armed Forces life which can include frequent school moves and long periods of separation from the serving parent.
Findings will be presented from Supporting All to Thrive, an Oxford Brookes University project to investigate the educational opportunities, experiences and outcomes of children with special or additional needs from Armed Forces families. The research combines analysis of national level attainment data, a survey and arts-based methods to provide a clear picture of children's educational outcomes and a rich understanding of the complexities of their educational trajectories and experiences.
The session will raise awareness of the needs of Service children with special or additional needs, highlighting how they can be supported to progress and thrive, experiencing learning and development journeys that mitigate the unique challenges of Armed Forces life. A follow-up session in autumn 2026 will provide further information on practical support that schools can provide, linking to bespoke tools and resources.
You can read more about our Twilight Talks sessions on our dedicated page.
Online
Suitable for: A parent/carer, Administration Staff, Assistant Head Teacher, Consultant, Deputy Head Teacher, Early Years Practitioner, Inclusion Manager/Leader, Newly Qualified Teacher, SENCO, Student, Support staff, Teacher, Young person, Other
Meet your trainer
Julie Lowe
Julie Lowe is the Policy Officer for Families, Homes and Communities at the Royal British Legion (RBL). Part of RBL’s Campaigns, Policy and Research team, Julie works to improve public policy and services that support children and families in the Armed Forces community, including special or additional education needs or disabilities. Qualified in adult and children’s nursing, Julie has experience across the Armed Forces charity sector, the Ministry of Defence and British Army.
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Dr Claire Lee
Dr Claire Lee is an education researcher in the Centre for Psychological Research at Oxford Brookes University. With a background in teaching, she completed her PhD in 2020 at the School of Education, University of Bristol, examining the learning lives of children from UK Armed Forces families. She conducts qualitative, dialogic research with children, parents and teachers, including using arts-based methods to explore children's learning lives and parents'/carers' experiences of supporting their children's education. Claire led the recent ‘Supporting All to Thrive (SATT) research project that investigated the educational opportunities, experiences and outcomes of children with additional learning or support needs and/or disabilities from UK Armed Forces families.
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Anna Hutchinson
Anna Hutchinson is an experienced education professional with a background in teaching, school leadership, and policy development. She began her career teaching across the primary key stages, developing expertise in classroom practice, assessment, and senior leadership. Anna later moved into an advisory role within a local authority, supporting schools to improve outcomes for children from minority backgrounds. For the past six years, Anna has worked for the Army Families Federation (AFF), advocating for improved education and childcare provision for military children. Her work is evidence-based and focused on shaping policy and informing decision-makers to reduce barriers and improve access.
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Karen Ross
Karen Ross works for the Army Families Federation as their Health and Additional Needs Specialist and has been in the role for over fourteen years. Her role involves advocating and empowering Army families on any health or additional needs related issues. She regularly meets with stakeholders and policy makers in MOD and single Service chain of command and with outside organisations and agencies such as NHS England & the Department of Health and Social Care and with the equivalent agencies in the Devolved Administrations. Karen’s role covers the UK and overseas commands, so anywhere that Army families are based.
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Rebecca Lovell
‘Rebecca is Head of Policy and Deputy CEO of the Naval Families Federation (NFF), promoting understanding of the needs of Naval families to ensure policy decisions are shaped and changed with consideration of their daily lives. As a former senior teacher, experienced across both secondary and junior phases, Rebecca provides advocacy and educational subject matter expertise to support with complex enquiry work; she also contributes to research relating to the Armed Forces Community. As a Naval spouse, with two school aged children, Rebecca’s personal experience and understanding underpins her work at the NFF.’
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Alexandra Stokes
Alexandra Stokes is the Policy Advisor for Education and Childcare at the RAF Families Federation (RAFFF), with responsibilities covering a broad range of issues affecting families, including SEND. Drawing on a background in primary education, Alexandra engages directly with families to provide information and guidance; collects evidence on the lived experience; and advocates for the RAF community to policy makers and stakeholders as the RAFFF work to shape change and improve the quality of life for the RAF family around the world.
