For those not in the know regarding CEA.
The service most hit by a change to the levels (which have been reducing in real terms for the last 5 years at least) or rules regarding CEA would in fact be the Army with its insistance on moving people around the country at regular intervals. As far as stability goes there are still many areas of the RAF which regularly move around the country, not everyone has a totally stable future. Hence the need for stability for a child's education.
The Joint Service Regulations now clearly state that the allowance is reviewed upon re application for the service persons Mobility Eligibility Certificate (every 3 years, on posting or on child's change of school) if at that point the service person has not moved locaton after 3 successive postings then the application for the Mobility Certificate is firstly reviewed by the Stn cdr and then by the CEAS.
As far as boarding is concerned, the first child has to board for at least 1 year after which, if you are lucky enough to be posted nearby, you can opt for day school allowance on the understanding that they will need to board if you move again.
At the end of the day it is not CEA that has broken the bank it is the total mishandling of the procurement budget, an insistance on delaying projects (with the inevitable reduction in numbers of items) to "save" money and an insistance on sticking our noses into too many areas that got us to where we are.
