Education Welfare Service Rhondda Cynon Taf

Education Welfare Service

The Education Welfare Service (EWS) works in partnership with schools, pupils, families and other support agencies, with the principle aim of improving school attendance. The EWS is also responsible for issusing and monitoring child employment work permits and performance licenses.

The team consists of two managers, three education social workers, fifteen education welfare officers (EWO's) and a number of project offices who work to ensure that all registered pupils attend school regularly giving them opportunity to gain the maximum benefits from their education.

THE EWS looks to:

Provide an efficient and effective service to schools, working closely with them in all matters that relate to the welfare of pupils.
Provide advice and support to pupils and their families where factors are preventing them attending.
Contribute to the Local Authority Children and Young People Plan, particularly targets for improvements in attendance.

Education provides children and young people with the foundation that prepares them for their life with parents and carers being responsible for ensuring that once registered at school their child(ren) attends regularly and punctually.

What does an EWO do?

EWO's work to support pupils and families in times where there may be difficulties in attending school. Once the service receives a referral on a pupil they will

Make contact with the family by letter, or more often by making a visit to the pupil's home.
Make an assessment of the situation and establish a plan for improvement.
Act as an advocate of the pupil by liaising with the school and the family.
If thought appropriate make referrals to other agencies e.g, medical officer, children's services, child and family services.
Advise and assist families in specific circumstances e.g. allegations of bullying, school transfers, issuing licences for young people to work or perform.

Children Missing from Education

It is possible for anyone, whether a professional working with families or members of the community to come across a child or young person who appears to be "out of school". In these circumstances the EWS can make the necessary enquiries and provide any help or assistance a family may need in locating and registering a child into school. All enquires made with the EWS are done confidentially.

Missing_Education_Leaflet.pdf

What Happens When Attendance Does Not Improve

The law says that once registered at school all pupils must attend regularly and punctually. If after a period of involvement with the EWS, there is no improvement in attendance, then the EWO will instigate legal proceedings against parents if thought necessary

Success_Starts_at_School.pdf

Home Education

The law allows parents to education their children at home instead of sending them to school. If a parent decides to withdraw their child from school, it is important that they notify the school in writing which allows the school to remove the child's name from the register and inform the Local Authority.

Child Employment and Children in Entertainment

Children and young people are only allowed to work in certain occupations and for time-limited periods, depending on their age and the requirements to attend school. Within these requirements applications are made to the EWS for work permits.

Employers public liability insurance does not cover children and young people working for them without a permit, which would have serious reprecussions for any child who is injured whilst at work. Employers who have young people working for them without a permit are committing an offence for which they may be prosecuted.

Children and young people who are statutory school age must have a licence to take part in any theatre, sporting, acting or modelling job and be appropriately and safely chaperoned to activites and events.

Child_Employment_Leaflet.pdf

Partnership Working

The EWS is a preventative service that promotes multi agency working with colleagues on initiatives that raises the importance of attending school. These initiatives include truancy patrols in identified areas, community safety awareness and joing facilitating of theraupeutic child and family group activities.

Truancy_Information.pdf

Addtional Information

Here is some additional information in relation to Family Holidays during Term Time

Family_Holidays_Leaflet.pdf