Welcome to British Forces Cyprus

There are three early years settings on island in Episkopi, Dhekelia, and Akrotiri. The Early Years settings offer high-quality childcare provision for children 0-3/5 for 50 weeks of the year.

The Early Years settings are housed in brand new, purpose-built buildings and follow the Early Years statutory framework. The facilities in Cyprus are well supported by a range of services and work in partnership with the schools and are led by experienced UK British Civilian Early Years Managers and Deputies.

In order to move upon assignment overseas with your family, your children will need to be assessed as educationally supportable in the overseas location and this includes Cyprus. If your children have a level of SEND/AN, it is crucial to ensure that their needs can be met.

If the intention is to access a MOD school, then you should enquire at the school about the admission process. If you are not accessing a MOD school, then CEAS will provide the assessment of supportability.

You will be expected to complete an Educational Overseas Supportability form prior to arrival where your child’s current school will clarify any support or educational issues. If you have any questions at all about travelling overseas with your child or would like further advice about your child’s SEND/AN then please contact CEAS. Likewise, upon return from Cyprus to the UK, or to another overseas assignment, the CEAS team can offer support, advice and guidance.

E-mail: DCYP-CEAS-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service comprises of 2 specialist paediatric Speech and Language Therapists and a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant.

The team cover all island with offices and clinics in Episkopi Block B, Akrotiri Family Centre and Dhekelia MRS – although they carry out much of their interventions within schools and Early Years settings.

The SLTs provide assessment, diagnosis, general advice, support, training, and programmes of care to maximise the communication potential of children within BFC.

The service can be accessed via an open referral system or from discussion with GP, Health Visitors or education staff. Enquiries and requests for advice from parents, as well as professionals, is encouraged.

Contact: 00357 2527 5835.

You are advised to carefully consider whether to bring a child to Cyprus or if an assignment/posting to Cyprus is appropriate when your child has started a GCSE or A level exam course (or equivalent) or will be entering that period when you are due to leave. It is extremely difficult to replicate GCSE or A-level choices and curriculum if the young person is expected to move during critical years of education (years 10-11 and 12-13).

The MOD secondary schools will help you plan carefully for your children who are currently studying for GCSEs or are due to begin studying for GCSEs during your tour so please contact the school for further advice and information.

Whilst MOD schools are the first choice for most parents, SP may feel that it is not appropriate to bring their child to Cyprus, in these circumstances SP can apply for Continuity of Education Allowance to help cover the costs of leaving their child in a school in the UK. The policy differs for UKBC and details can be found in the Overseas Civilian Transfers Policy. Further information can also be obtained by contacting CEAS (details below).

E-mail: DCYP-CEAS-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

BFC Standing Order J1 – 11 details the circumstances of when family member status can be given.

Regarding children’s education, unless exceptional circumstances can be presented, only children who are in a key stage of education will be considered as having grounds for continued dependency when the entitled person is permanently assigned away from Cyprus.

A key stage of education is defined as, ‘where the child is within one term of a public examination’. In practice, this relates to the term from December in the year of examination and GCSE as a minimum.

SP only

Children (under 18 or up to 23 completing their first degree) at school in the UK with accompanied parents residing in BFC or Single Parent residing in BFC are entitled to MOD funded School Children’s Visits (SCV). Your Unit Admin Office will process SCVs in accordance with current regulations. If you plan to have your eligible children visit you shortly after you arrive in Cyprus be sure to submit the necessary paperwork well beforehand. Your present unit can also arrange booking this travel, if time is very short. Motor Mileage Allowance claims associated with CEA visits may be claimed on JPA once the child has returned to school in the UK.

UKBC only

Entitlement to SCVs are contained in the Overseas Civilian Transfer Policy and these are arranged though the Civ HR branch in HQ BFC.