Support for families in the forces

Buckinghamshire has two RAF bases, RAF Halton near Wendover, and RAF High Wycombe.

Both bases have a HIVE service. HIVEs are information and welfare referral services that support serving personnel, their families, veterans, Reservists, and civilians on Station.

Whether you’re about to be stationed in Buckinghamshire, or already live here, HIVEs can advise you on:

• relocating
• local station and civilian facilities
• schools and further education
• housing
• healthcare facilities
• employment and training opportunities
• places of interest

Find out more about your base’s HIVE:

RAF Halton HIVE

RAF High Wycombe HIVE

Service families based in the UK or overseas can get help with childcare costs including 15 and 30-hours childcare, Tax-Free childcare and Universal Free-School-Meals.

There is also a pilot scheme providing 20 hours wraparound childcare for parents in the RAF stationed in Buckinghamshire. This helps pay for before and after school clubs.

See childcare help for service families

Other local support

You can also speak to your base’s HIVE or contact to find out more about help with childcare or activities.

RAF High Wycombe, for example, runs the RAF High Wycombe toddler group

You can also search the directory to find nearby childcare providers including childminders, nurseries, pre-schools and holiday schemes.

If you’re a service family and have a child at a local State School, Academy or Free School, then your child’s school can get extra funding to help support your child. This funding is called service pupil premium (SPP).

Service pupil premium mainly helps to provide non-educational support (known as pastoral care) because children from service families can face additional or specific challenges.

Speak to your child’s school about service pupil premium.

The Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) provides advice and support on the educational well-being of children and young people of service families.

CEAS supports families in all 3 services and eligible Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilians who are based overseas.

The CEAS team is comprised of qualified teachers and experienced case advisors. They can advise on a wide range of educational issues including:

• parental rights and responsibilities
• children or young person’s rights and responsibilities
• special educational needs and/or disability
• school admissions and appeals
• overseas education in non-MOD school areas
• retention of quarters for educational purposes
• Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA)

Search local support services and charities supporting services families in Buckinghamshire.