MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

Discover My Benefits - Families

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? Living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Volunteers needed for the user testing

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? The childcare team are asking for volunteers to take part in user testing and provide feedback on some of the products required to register and claim the UKNA reimbursement.

If you haven’t heard about UKNA, read the announcement from March 2026:
Transformative new childcare support will save Defence families up to £6000 a year - GOV.UK

Criteria for taking part in the testing:

• Service personnel (SP) must be Regular or FTRS (FC)
• SP with children aged 9 months to 2 years old living in Scotland or Wales, and SP with children aged 9 months to 4 years old living in Northern Ireland.
• SP that are currently paying for childcare at a registered childcare provider.
• SP that use a Tax-Free Childcare account to pay their provider.
• SP that have sufficient time available to test the product and provide feedback to the team.

User testing will take place between now and September.

If you fit the criteria and would like to take part in the user testing, please contact the Defence childcare team at people-affs-child-expenses@mod.gov.uk

SHAPE: Summer Camp for kids at the SHAPE Arts & Crafts Centre - sign-up now open

If you are looking for Summer Camp opportunities in the School Holidays, check out what the SHAPE Arts and Crafts Centre have on offer.

Spaces are limited so be sure to sign up soon if you are interested.

Pop in to SHAPE Arts and Crafts Centre to secure your space.


Information provided by SHAPE HIVE

Gibraltar: Summer Sports & Leisure Programme

This year’s Summer Sports and Leisure Programme will start Monday 6th July until Friday 28th August. Registrations to Sports Train and the programmes Support and Integration Service is now open with links and QR codes available on the GSLA Website. Face to face registration available at the Bayside Sports Complex 10am to 3pm.

Details of all activities on offer over the summer period can be seen on the GSLA Website www.gsla.gi

Registration links to Sports Train activities is now open.

For further information please contact the GSLA Sports Development, Training and Inclusion team on email sportsdevelopment@gsla.gi

A statement from the Government follows below:

BELGIUM: Summer Holiday Camps 2026 in Ghlin and Jurbise

Looking for a French-speaking Summer Holiday Camp? Two weeks are available at St Louis School in Ghlin and Jurbise. With passionate teams and varied themes combining sport, problem-solving and creativity these Summer Camps will be both educational and fun.

Week 1: From Monday 20th July to Friday 24th July 2026
GHLIN - Superhero Camp, for ages 3-6 years and Escape Game Camp, for ages 6-10 years
JURBISE - Superhero Camp, for ages 3-6 years and Dance Camp, for ages 6-10 years

Week 2: From Monday 17th August to Friday 21st August 2026
GHLIN - Fine Motor Skills Camp, for ages 3-6 years and Dance Camp, for ages 6-10 years
JURBISE - Fine Motor Skills Camp, for ages 3-6 years and Escape Game Camp, for ages 6-10 years

MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION: Asbl.dexterity@gmail.com or +32 (0)488 47 23 92

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE

BRUSSELS: Children's Summer Holiday Camps, registration now open!

Looking for Children's Summer Holiday Camps?

You can register your children for holiday camps from now. Sports activities, creative development, and all kinds of fun await your children. Registration at the Staff Centre reception, or by e-mail: academy.nato@highfive.fit. 

Available dates:

• 1-3 July (3 days)
• 6-10 July
• 13-17 July
• 20-24 July (4 days)
• 27-31 July
• 3-7 August
• 10-14 August
• 18-21 August (4 days)
• 24-28 August

PLEASE NOTE: in order to ensure the best experience for all families, camp registration will close one week before the start of the camp.

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE

Little Troopers Family Reconnection Weekend July 2026

 Family Reconnection Weekend – July 2026
Applications are now open!
We’re heading to Cuffley Activity Centre in Hertfordshire for a woodland weekend full of activities, connection and time together as a military family. Families will also have the chance to connect with others from the military community who truly understand military life.
Register your interest now, open to families with children in Year 4 and above.
We can’t wait to welcome lots of you to our second Family Reconnection Weekend of 2026!
Applications https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XH8RVPF...

SHAPE: Kings Camp Booking Opens Today, 11:00

Kings Camp Booking opens today at 11:00 Belgium Time, Don't Delay!

TOP TIP: Get ahead of the game by logging in and registering prior to booking opening.

LINK: https://www.kingscamps.org/kids-camps-at-military-bases/

Information provided SHAPE HIVE

Defence UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) – launches Sept 2026

To access any document links, please view the document online here.

Further information will follow in due course, but please contact HIVE with any queries in the meantime.

BFSWS: Reasons to Not Smack Your Children

 

BRUNEI: Primary School Aged Childcare Overseas (PSACO) Allowance

PRIMARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDCARE OVERSEAS (PSACO) ALLOWANCE

1. What is the PSACO Allowance?

a. The PSACO Allowance is the final phase of the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme. Providing a reimbursement of before and after school childcare costs for 4–11-year-old children (4-16 years old if in receipt of certain UK disability benefits), in overseas locations where due to local rules or regulations the WAC Allowance eligibility criteria cannot be met or because Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) accounts are not available.

b. Service personnel that meet the eligibility criteria could claim around £3,400 per child, per year, for before and after school childcare costs.

c. The PSACO Allowance does not provide childcare spaces, it is a reimbursement of costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.

2. Where to find further information? The eligibility criteria, further guidance and resources are available on the Defence Childcare Information page, Families Hub Information Portal, Defence Connect Childcare Information Page and 2025DIN01-122.

3. When will Registration be available? More information regarding registration and claims guidance will be available from January 2026.

4. Have questions? Personnel and Service families can email the policy team at PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

5. A poster relevant to the subject can be found at [Annex B].

NAPLES : Top Tips for Toddlers Teeth

Good oral health is very important for a child's growth and can affect their health. Starting good tooth brushing habits early can help prevent tooth decay and other problems later on. The Top Tips for Teeth resource encourage parents to start taking care of their child's teeth as soon as the first tooth comes in, which usually happens around six months old.

 

Toddlers Teeth - How to look after your toddlers teeth? 

Information provided by NAPLES HIVE

BRUNEI: Treetops Setting Leaflet