The Education Welfare Service (EWS) plays a key role in improving attendance at school, reducing truancy and tackling persistent absenteeism.
Under education law, parents are responsible for ensuring that their registered children of compulsory school age (five to 16-years-old) attend school regularly. The council has a duty to make sure that parents undertake this responsibility. This duty is carried out by Education Welfare Officers.
Education Welfare Officers provide advice and support to parents and carers to help resolve problems that affect the school attendance of children and young people, and to carry out their legal responsibilities. They help parents and carers to take full advantage of their children's educational provision and maximise their life chances and opportunities.
Although the Education Welfare Service takes the lead role in supporting attendance, it is everyone's responsibility. The service works closely with schools and a number of agencies to promote children's welfare and their education.
Each school has a named Education Welfare Officer. Referrals are received from schools, parents, pupils and other agencies.
The Education Welfare Service will be able to advise on a range of issues including:
- School attendance
- Registration and categories of absence
- Holidays in term time
- Exclusion from school/educational provision
- Juvenile employment and entertainment licensing
- Legal action relating to attendance issues
- Parenting contracts
- Truancy sweeps
- Common Assessment
The council has a duty to identify and track children who are missing education. This duty is undertaken by the Children Missing Education Officer (CME) from the Education Welfare Service.
For children whose parents choose to educate at home (elective home education), the council has a duty to be satisfied that these children are being educated appropriately. This duty is jointly undertaken with the council's Diversity Service.
Education welfare service statement
Education welfare service position statement
Contact
Education Welfare Service
Church Square House
Scunthorpe
Tel: 01724 297502
Fax: 01724 296866
