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The Education Welfare Service
All children of compulsory school age must receive suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. If a child is registered at school parents have the primary responsibility for ensuring that their child attends regularly.
Local Authorities (LA) have a duty under Section 437 of the Education Act 1996 to serve a notice of “School Attendance Order” on a parent where necessary in order to enforce the parents’ responsibility for ensuring that children of compulsory school age (see note below) receive a suitable education.
This duty is undertaken by the Education Welfare Service (EWS) and its Education Welfare Officers (EWOs). The Government’s priority is to reduce the level of absences both authorised and unauthorised. The Government looks to LAs, through their EWS, to focus their efforts on achieving these targets.
Pupil Attendance Strategy for 2006/2009
What does the service do?
The main function of the Service is to ensure full attendance for all pupils who live within the Bromley area and/or attend Bromley schools. The EWS carries out the Local Authority's statutory responsibility with regard to school attendance.
Additionally the Service has responsibilities with regard to:
Each school within the Authority has a dedicated Education Welfare Officer (EWO). Education Welfare Service (EWS) time is allocated to a strict criteria and Officers visit schools to liaise with regard to attendance. Work includes:
- direct in-school support for individual children whose attendance is giving cause for concern;
- home-to-school liaison, including home visits;
- community action to combat truancy, e.g. Truancy Patrols;
- partnership work with other LA services and other agencies;
- consultation;
- court action where necessary;
- issuing child employment and performance licences;
- management of children home educated by parental choice (HEP);
- advice on child protection issues.
Further information regarding how the service is provided
What is poor attendance?
Poor attendance is normally defined as below 80%. DCSF targets are 95% at primary level and 92% at secondary level. The reasons for poor attendance are numerous and can include:
- special educational needs;
- parentally condoned absences – children kept at home to assist a sick parent; to assist with siblings; parental mental health problems; parents who abuse alcohol or drugs; parents who do not value education; abusive parents;
- cultural disregard for education;
- pupils' involvement with drugs or alcohol;
- bullying (by other pupils or by adult staff);
- peer pressure;
- offending behaviour.
Spike - Every Schoolday Counts Project
The Every Schoolday Counts Project is committed to promoting the positive aspects of school attendance to children, their families and the wider community. Spike, the Project's friendly attendance mascot, plays a huge role in the identity. He is a regular visitor and a very welcome character in and around schools.
What EWS can do
What parents can do
What schools can do
Further information regarding the legal situation for referral to the Education Welfare Service
Contact Details
Telephone: 020 8313 4151
Fax: 020 8313 4145
e-mail: education.welfare@bromley.gov.uk
Address:
Education Welfare Service, Children and Young People Department, London Borough of Bromley, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH