What is the Continuity of Education Allowance?
Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is contribution to boarding school fees for Service families. It is intended to assist Service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their child(ren) that would otherwise be denied in the maintained school sector if their child(ren) accompanied them on frequent assignments both at home and overseas.
Applying for CEA
Subject to meeting the strict eligibility criteria, Service personnel may be entitled to claim CEA towards their family’s fees for boarding school.
If you are considering claiming CEA you must first contact the Education Advisory Team (EAT) and register your child(ren).
Sometimes, working out if you’re eligible to claim CEA – or how to claim it – can feel complicated and confusing, as every situation is different. Since April 1, 2026, a Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) advisory helpdesk (part of the Pay and Allowances Casework and Complaints Cell (PACCC)) has been able to provide:
- Expert advice on how the CEA process works
- Signposting to the right information and resources
- Support to Unit HRs, especially with complex cases or the interpretation of policy
- A consistent approach to ensure fairness and accuracy in decision‑making across Defence
If you have questions about CEA, The Education Advisory Team (EAT) remains your first point of contact for advice on a first application. Your unit HR can support with pay and allowances queries, including CEA. Where further clarification or specialist advice is required, Service personnel, families and unit HR staff can contact the CEA Advisory Team directly at [email protected].
To help the team respond as quickly and accurately as possible, please include your service number, rank, name and unit when submitting a query.
CEA Considerations
The allowance is available for children of eight years of age and over. The costs of boarding schools can vary greatly and parents are expected to contribute a minimum of 10% towards the fees. The fees are only part of the costs and parents should be clear what extras the school charges for, such as uniform, music and sports, tuck, stationery, and weekend activities. In claiming CEA, the service person must fully accept that accompanied service is the overriding principle for maintaining entitlement.
The latest rates and allowances are detailed in JSP 752 – Tri-Service Regulations
CEA Responsibilities
In claiming CEA, the Service person must fully accept that accompanied service is the overriding principle for maintaining entitlement. Ensure that you have read and understood the regulations before committing – there are rules about how far you live from your place of work (the ’50 mile rule’), how much time a spouse can spend away from the home (the ‘90 day rule’) as well as your mobility as a family.
There are numerous guides and sources of information available to parents who are considering boarding or independent schools.
CEA Special Educational Needs Allowance
In line with JSP 752, a Special Educational Needs Addition (SENA) is available to service parents alongside CEA to contribute towards the support for service children with certain levels of additional need. Applications for CEA(SENA) should be made through the EAT.
Considering a boarding school for your child?
Whether to board or not is a big decision for any family and is very much a personal choice. If you are currently deciding what is best for your family this article may be helpful.
Reports on boarding schools
All school reports are published online. Boarding schools are classified as independent schools and are therefore inspected by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate, not Ofsted. Visit the website to view the inspection reports of schools you are considering.
State boarding schools in the UK
You might like to look at the range of opportunities available in the state sector when considering boarding school options for your son/daughter. State boarding schools provide free education but charge fees for boarding. Contact the State Boarding Forum for more information about state boarding schools, eligibility and how to apply.
Understanding the CEA Process
Applying for and receiving Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) can involve engagement with a number of teams, each with different roles and responsibilities. Understanding who is responsible for different aspects of the process can help families navigate CEA more confidently and know where to seek information and support.
To help RAF personnel and families better understand how CEA works in practice, we have included the following MOD resources explaining the process, roles and responsibilities, and answers to frequently asked questions.
CEA Roles and Responsibilities Guide
This guide explains the roles and responsibilities of the different teams involved in the administration of CEA and where families may need to take action at different stages of the process.
CEA roles and responsibilities
CEA Customer Journey
The customer journey map provides a visual overview of the CEA process, helping personnel and families understand the key stages from initial enquiry through to ongoing administration and review.
CEA Frequently Asked Questions
The CEA FAQ guide provides answers to common questions about the scheme and its administration
Need Further Support?
The RAF Families Federation is independent of the MOD and does not administer CEA. However, we can help RAF personnel and families understand the process, signpost relevant information and raise emerging issues where appropriate.
If you require advice about your individual circumstances, you may also wish to speak to your Chain of Command, Unit HR or the relevant MOD team responsible for CEA administration.
Contact the RAF Families Federation
Bursaries and Assistance
Some independent schools offer bursaries or discounted rates for Armed Forces families and others. We are aware of the following resources with information which may be of interest to those considering applying for a bursary:
For families in particular need of assistance there is might also be charitable support available to you– see our Charitable Support page.
