Education welfare support for children and young people

The Education Welfare Service aims to ensure that every child and young person receives the maximum benefit from the educational opportunities provided by the City Council.

The service consists of a team of Education Welfare Officers who undertake statutory responsibilities on behalf of the City Council's Department for Lifelong Learning.

With schools:

• Works to secure full time attendance at school for all pupils.
• Assists in building links with families, if necessary.
• Discharges the Local Education Authority's (LEA) legal duty to prosecute parents as required.
• Assists in promoting an ethos that encourages regular attendance and inclusion.
• Develops an effective working relationship with school staff and pupils based on trust and co-operation.
• Provides advice for school staff on child protection issues and procedures.

With families:

• Advises, assists and supports families especially where a child's behaviour may lead to exclusion.
• Helps families gain access to appropriate agencies when professional help is required.
• Advises parents of their legal duties in relation to their child's education.

With children and young people:

• Gives support, advice and encouragement.
• Liaises with other support agencies to promote the general welfare of young people, protecting them from abuse or exploitation.
• Promotes a regular school attendance through monitoring, intervention and support.
• Implements legislative requirements concerning the employment of children.

Tackling absence from school

For information on the latest Department for Education and Skills (DfES) campaign to tackle absence in schools please see the every lesson counts page.