More money for Army pupils

Jul 8 2008 By Robert Cumber

Soldiers at Hounslow barracks

Schools in Hounslow West will receive extra cash to support the children of soldiers at Hounslow Barracks, it has been confirmed.

Headteachers will be given an additional £1,275 for every pupil living at the camp in Beavers Lane from next year.

Beavers Community Primary School in nearby Arundel Road is set to be the biggest winner but Hounslow Heath Infant and Nursery School, in Martindale Road, and Hounslow Heath Juniors, in Cambridge Road, could also be in line for a windfall.

A Hounslow Council spokesman said: "We acknowledge the need for extra support for children of servicemen and women and are finalising plans that will see extra funding to support these families.

"The nature of service life means some children don't have the chance to benefit from the continuity other children have. We recognise this and are allocating extra funding to support the children during their time in the borough."

He added that final figures were still being calculated but schools should receive extra money for the current financial year.

Bedfont councillor Jiwan Virk first suggested the move in November, six months before the Tories announced plans to do the same across the country.

Cllr Virk wanted schools to receive £1,500 per pupil because of the hardship experienced by service families and the trauma of deaths and serious injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.