About the SATT project
The Supporting All to Thrive study is beginning to provide a clear picture of the educational outcomes of children from Armed Forces backgrounds who have additional needs and/or disability, linked to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics and complexities characterising their educational trajectories and experiences.
The study was led by a team of researchers from Oxford Brookes University, and was guided by a Steering Group of expert stakeholders. It was funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, under the MOD Armed Forces Family Fund Research Grant programme.
The project ran from March 2024 to September 2025, and had MOD Research Ethics Committee approval (ref: 2316/MODREC/24).
Strands
The study comprised three complementary strands:
Strand 1
We analysed national-level datasets to compare the attainment of Service children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability with non-Service peers. This strand provides a detailed understanding of the prevalence of additional needs among Service children in England, and sheds important light on their educational outcomes.
Strand 2
Our survey is giving us a better understanding of the experiences of provision for children with additional needs from both Service and non-Service families and the factors affecting children’s success.
The survey, which closed in February 2025, was open to families of children with additional needs throughout the UK and to UK Service families stationed overseas, and gathered over 300 responses.
Strand 3
Arts workshops with parents are providing rich insights into families’ and children’s lived experiences, challenges and successes. We have held in-person art workshops in a variety of locations across the UK as well as three online workshops, with families from all three Services. We completed this strand of the research in June 2025.
Findings
The full study report is underway and will be available on this website when complete. Findings will inform recommendations for strengthening policies and provision for policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders. The recommendations will allow stakeholders to better target resources, improve consistency of provision, and implement evidence-based solutions to support Service children with SEND, and fulfil their Covenant Duty obligations.
By enhancing the understanding and confidence of those who care for them, the research will support all children and their families to thrive.