The Military Liaison Group (Education) provides a unique partnership of services and agencies that come together regularly to ensure we are getting it right for Children and Young People from Armed Forces Families in Highland. It’s work is informed by Children and Young People’s experiences, gains their voices (UNCRC Article 12) and encourages them to express their thoughts and feelings (UNCRC Article 13). MLG partners also talk and listen to families’ views to gain their views and act on needs as appropriate.
The MLG is a tri-service partnership that works operationally within an educational context and works with Children and Young People, their families, education settings and specialist services to ensure equity and equality so they suffer no disadvantage due to being from a military family.
MLG strives to ensure equity and equality and the best possible outcome within education for Children and Young People from Armed Forces families across Highland, Serving, Reservist and Veteran families.
MLG has built strong relationships with its Armed Forces community and continues to work closely with them. Information is shared across Highland Council education and specialist service teams in relation to being from an Armed Forces family and the challenges that can be faced at times, creating wider awareness and understanding of military life.
In Scotland, unlike in England, no funding is received for a pupil from an Armed Forces Family. Support in Scotland is universally provided and therefore for all Highlands children. If we know a family is from an Armed Forces family, we can ensure we get the right targeted support to the Child or Young Person at the right time, if needed. We can ensure those adults working with and supporting pupils from Armed Forces families have an understanding and awareness of what it’s like being from an Armed Forces family and some of the challenges and barriers that can be faced. Therefore, identification at Enrolment is key.
Highland Council has signed up to its own Armed Forces Covenant. In addition, it is proud to hold the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. MLG is the ‘education arm’ of Highland’s Armed Forces Covenant.
All 32 local authorities in Scotland have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant applies to Serving, Reserves and Veterans and aims to ensure members of the Armed Forces community have the same access to government and commercial services as other citizens.
If you would like further information, please visit www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk
Armed Forces Families Highland 