"Please thank the staff and especially Squirrel class for an amazing performance, they certainly done everyone proud. Our children loved watching old friends and siblings." - Busy Bees "He chats so happily about his school life and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of your staff who make his learning so much fun." Parent The climate in the school is warm, calm and friendly. The relationships between staff and pupils are a strength and throughout the learning walk, it was evident pupils feel safe and happy." Local Authority "Staff know children very well and have made a wide range of adaptations to cater for their varying needs." Local Authority "Teaching assistants respectfully and sensitively support pupils to access learning or provide alternative activities as required." Local Authority

Denmead Infant School Mini-Heroes

In April 2011 the Department for Education introduced the Service Pupil premium (SPP) in recognition of the specific challenges children from service families face and as part of the commitment to delivering the armed forces covenant.

At Denmead Infant School we use this premium to assist us in providing the additional support that service children may need through an informal support group called ‘Mini-Heroes’. The purpose of this group is to offer pastoral care, to support the emotional wellbeing of our service children. We work with children in small groups (or individually if required) to share the joys and difficulties (emotionally and practically) of being a forces family.  

Cartoon of airforce, navy and army officers

Mini Heroes

At Denmead Infant School, we believe that support is about providing the right care and provision for children at the right time. 
Our Service Pupil Premium (SPP) funding contributes to the cost of a staff member whose role in part is also that of the Service Children Liaison Officer.
This role includes but is not limited to:
  • keeping a record of which service children are arriving and leaving
  • keeping a record of anticipated deployment dates of serving parent/s so planned support can be actioned
  • supporting service children who are ‘at risk’ of not meeting end of year expectations in their learning for appropriate weekly intervention out of their class.
  • enabling service children to meet with other Mini Heroes out of class, including those from the Junior School
  • providing books / information about parents being deployed to support children’s understanding
  • creating displays around the school sharing our serving parents and our Mini Heroes
  • creating displays sharing where serving parents might be in the world, as well as where all the children are from
  • supporting charities e.g. The Royal British Legion
  • participating in events celebrating the military e.g. including Armed Forces Day, VE Day 80, Denmead Remembrance Parade
  • a newly launched weekly lunchtime club where service children can meet and suggest activities
In doing so, our Mini Heroes develop a positive sense of identity, are proud to be part of the service community, and can access their learning with confidence.  They are also supported during periods of transition to new schools to enable them to ‘keep up and not catch up.’ 

Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces, regular or reserve. They provide fundamental resources, initiatives and events to ease and aid repeated separation periods aiming to keep parent and child connected and bonded even when miles apart. Please click here to find out more information about Little Troopers. 

Tickets for Troops provides free tickets to members of the Armed Forces for a variety of sporting, musical and cultural events. Click here for more information Tickets for Troops. 

Defence Discount Service provides those in the Armed Forces, Veterans and the Defence Community with discounts both online and in store. The Defence Discount Service also allows small and large companies to get involved with offering a discount and encourage companies in local areas to offer discounts to the Armed Forces Community. Click here for more information. 

Click here for a guide to School Admissions for Armed Forces Families.
Click here for Hampshire County Council’s advice for UK service families