SELB Educational Welfare Service

Information For Schools

Education provides young people with the opportunity to prepare for life. The Education Welfare Service (EWS) is a specialist education support service within the Education and Library Boards, that seeks to help young people of compulsory school age and their families get the best out of the education system.

Aim

To promote a culture of regular attendance at school.

Mission Statement

The Education Welfare Service promotes the participation of children and young people in beneficial education through a partnership and inclusive approach.

Value Statement

Education is important for life chances
Parents are the primary educators of their children and should fulfil their educational responsibilities
All children and young people should have equal opportunities to benefit from an appropriate education regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, culture, age, social background or special educational needs.
Children and young people should be involved in any decisions that affect them
The best interests of the child or young person are best served through effective partnerships involving children and young people, parents, families, school staff and other agencies.

Strategic Objectives

To assist schools to develop a whole school approach to the promotion of regular attendance.
To operate within agreed criteria for referrals from schools and to respond appropriately.
To empower parents to meet their legal responsibilities regarding school attendance through a partnership approach
To engage with children and families in a structured and purposeful way with a view to improving attendance at school.
To engage in efficient and effective intra-board partnerships in the best interest of the child or young person
To establish effective working relationships with appropriate external bodies - statutory, voluntary and community in the best interests of children and young people.

Additional Information/Frequently Asked Questions

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School Attendance

Duty of parents

Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their children attend school regularly. The duty of a parent, in relation to the education of their children, is found in the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986: “The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable to his/her age ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

What is expected from parents?

The attendance policy should set out clearly what the school expects from parents when their child is absent from school. The policy should tell parents what to do:

On the first day of their child’s absence from school
About contacting the school if absence continues
When the child or young person returns to school

Duty of the Education and Library Board

The ELB has a duty to ensure there are sufficient school places for the children who live within their area.

The Education Welfare Service has a delegated duty to ensure that parents/carers meet their own responsibility towards their children’s education. If parent/carers fail to ensure their child is educated, the EWS is duty bound to use the legal processes of court action, to uphold the parents/carers duty to make sure that the young people in their care receive an education.

When can children be absent from school?

The Department of Education in circular 2010/07 ‘Pupil Attendance and Absence Recording by Schools’ sets out how schools should code pupil absences from school and gives guidance as to whether an absence is considered authorized or unauthorized.

Legally there are reasons why children can be absent from school, these include:

Illness.
An unavoidable medical or dental appointment.
Participation in a religious event.
An exceptional family circumstance, e.g. wedding or a funeral
Transport (Failure of Board funded transport)

Some unacceptable reasons for absence include:

Birthdays.
Visiting relatives.
Shopping.
Hair appointment.
Looking after other members of the family.

Term Time Holidays

Since some parents choose to book family holidays during term time it is advisable that the school attendance policy sets how the school will treat such absences. DE guidance in the DE circular 2010/07 allows the Principal to decide whether or not to mark the absence as authorized or unauthorized. The guidance strongly recommends that most term time holidays should be treated as unauthorized absences and only in very exceptional circumstances should it be treated as an authorized absence.

Attendance Policies

Schools should have an attendance policy that is shared with parents. This should include the following:

Information about authorised and unauthorised absence
What is expected from parents when their child is absent from school
Structure for managing attendance
Roles and responsibilities of school staff in relation to attendance
Role of Board of governors in relation to attendance
Strategies for promoting good attendance
Strategies used to tackle absenteeism
Procedure for referral to the EWS

Threshold for referral to the EWS

School should consider referral to the EWS when attendance falls below 85% and the school is not satisfied with the reasons provided by the parents/carers for the absences

Making a referral to EWS

All schools have a link EWO, this provides the opportunity for regular discussion about the attendance of children and young people and the appropriateness of referrals.
Referrals should only be made to the EWS after school intervention has failed to improve attendance. The school will be expected to provide evidence about what they have tried on the referral form. If this is not included the referral form will be returned to the school.
The referral form should be completed, signed by the school principal and sent to the Senior Education Welfare Officer (SEWO) of the local EWS team along with a printout of the pupil’s attendance.
The school will receive initial feedback at their regular meeting with the EWO
The school will receive written feedback within 10 days of the referral being allocated
The school should always inform parents that they are making a referral to the EWS

What happens to referrals?

SEWOs have the responsibility for:

Ensuring that referrals meet the threshold and that schools have included details about their own intervention.
Allocating referrals to EWOs within their team. Frequently that will be to the EWO who provides a link with the school making the referral.

EWOs have responsibility for:

Contacting the parent and informing them that they have received a referral from their child’s school and arranging a home visit.
Using a UNOCINI (Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland) assessment form to help them to build up a picture of what is happening in the child’s life that is causing poor attendance at school and to use this information to plan interventions.
Sharing the UNOCINI with the parent/carer and agreeing the steps that should be taken to improve the child’s attendance at school.
Checking the child’s school attendance regularly and contacting the parent/carer again if it does not improve.
Gaining parental permission to talk with the child or young person in school.

What else might the EWO do to assist parent/carer to improve their child's school attendance?

Talk to the child or young person in school
Provide regular support for the child in school
Involve the child or young person in group-work
Make a referral to another service within the SELB or an external agency for further support.
Individual wirk

What happens if the child's school attendance does not improve?

The Education Welfare Service may take the parent/carer to court for failing to ensure their child is receiving education. The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 states:

“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable to his/her age ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

What is a parental prosecution?

An application to prosecute a parent/carer is made to the Magistrates Court (Youth hearing) by the EWS when a parent is in breach of the above legislation by having failed, despite repeated warnings, to ensure that their child attends school regularly and punctually.

Who attends the court hearing?

Parents will receive a written summons which requires them to attend the court. Children are not required to attend but need to be made aware of the seriousness of legal action.

What are the possible outcomes of a court hearing if convicted?

Magistrates are currently empowered to:

Fine each parent up to £1000 for each child
Give a conditional discharge for a period of time. This means that if a parent is convicted of a further offence during this period of time, the court will take the conditional discharge into account.
Give an absolute discharge
Adjourn the case
In addition the Court may direct the education and library board to reconsider applying for an Education Supervision Order.

What happens after a court appearance or hearing?

The level of school attendance of children whose parents are prosecuted is expected to reach an acceptable level and to be maintained. If this does not happen then further legal action may be taken by the Education Welfare Service. This can be either a further parental prosecution or an application for an Education Supervision Order.

What is an Education Supervision Order?

Education Supervision Orders are part of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, are heard in the Family Proceedings court and are only suitable when there is a level of co-operation between the education and library board and the family. They are intended to support parents in fulfilling their legal responsibilities.

What will happen?

The school and a representative from social services will be asked to attend a consultation meeting prior to the decision to proceed with an ESO
The EWO who has been working with the family will prepare a comprehensive report on the situation, taking into account the welfare checklist.
This report will be shared with the family who will have the opportunity to record any disagreement.
The report will include a work plan, which will inform the Court of the intended educational provision, any other agencies to be involved and any direction to be included.

When is an Education Supervision Order granted?

The Court must be satisfied that:

A child of compulsory school age is not being properly educated.
That making an order would be better than making no order.

Regard will also be given to what is known as the welfare checklist. This includes:

The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child.
His or her physical, emotional and educational needs.
The likely effects of a change in circumstances.
His or her age, sex and background.
Any harm suffered or at risk of suffering.
The capability of parents or other relevant persons in meeting his or her needs.
Other powers available to the Court.

How long will the Education Supervision Order last?

The order will initially be for one year. Before the end of that year, an application can be made for the order to be extended for up to three years.
However, an order cannot continue once your child has passed compulsory school age.
An application to discharge the order can be made before it is due to end by the parent, the Education and Library Board or the child or young person.

What are directions?

A Supervising Officer is empowered to give directions to the child/young person or the parents/guardians. These could be:

To attend meetings or appointments.
To undertake an assessment or examination.
To allow the supervising officer regular access to the child.

Directions should:

Only be used when necessary.
Be reasonable.
Be confirmed in writing.

What happens if the Education Supervision Order fails?

The matter can be referred back to the Family Proceedings Court.
Parents can be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court if they have failed to follow directions.
Social Services must investigate the child’s circumstances and consider whether to act to secure the welfare of the child.

School Age Children and Paid Employment

Young people can have a paid job while of school age but there are limits to the number of hours they are able to work and the type of job they can do. If a young person is employed (apart from babysitting) they need a job permit. It is the responsibility of the employer to apply to the Education and Library Board for a job permit. This is important as young people may not be insured if their employer does not apply for a job permit.

At what age can a young person get a part-time job?

Young people can get a part-time paid employment from age 13 but there are restrictions on the hours they can work and the type of work they can undertake.

On school days, limited to two hours work and not before 7am or after 7pm. Only one hour may be worked before school and this must finish half an hour before school starts.
A maximum of two hours work on Sundays

Age 13 - 15

A maximum of five hours work per day on Mondays – Saturday during school holidays. If working in the summer holidays must have two week uninterrupted holidays between July 1st and August 31st.
A maximum of 27 hours work per week
A child is entitled to one hour break after three hours continuous work (four hours on Saturdays)

Age 15 – 16

A maximum of seven hours work per day on Mondays – Saturday during school holidays. If working in the summer holidays must have two week uninterrupted holidays between July 1st and August 31st.
A maximum of 37 hours per week
A child is entitled to a one hour break after fours hours continuous work

Permitted Types of Work

The delivery of newspapers, milk, groceries, foodstuffs, flowers or drapery goods
Office work except in premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor, betting or gaming
Hotel and catering except in the kitchen or portions of the premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor
Work as a shop assistant excluding any premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor, betting or gaming
Domestic work
Light agricultural work or horticultural work for the parents of the child concerned
Street trading is prohibited

What to do if you have concerns about a young person's part time employment

If you become concerned about the hours a young person is working or the type of work they are undertaking you should inform the link EWO.

Children and Young People performing on stage or in films

Due to the increasing number of films and TV shows being made in Northern Ireland, more children and young people are seeking time away from school to act. If a child or young person is involved in this they are by law required to have a Performance Licence and the school principal will be required to give their permission in writing as part of this process.

Supporting young women of compulsory School Age through Pregnancy

If a young woman should become pregnant or have a baby while of compulsory school age advice and support is available from the School Age Mothers Programme within the EWS. The young woman is expected to continue to attend school for as long as she is medically fit to do so and to return to school after the birth of her child. The school should provide support, make necessary adjustments to timetables and the school uniform code should this be required.

Contact Lisa Grimley Tel:028 3752 3158

Transition Programme for P7 pupils

All schools in the SELB are offered a transition programme for P7 pupils by the EWS. This helps pupils to prepare for the transition to post primary education and to talk about any concerns they have about the change in schools.

Looked After Children (LAC)

Some schools will have ‘looked after children’ among their pupils. This means that social services has a legal responsibility for these children. Some will be in residential units while others will live with their parents, with extended family or foster parents.

Evidence from research has found that some looked after children do not achieve academically as well as their peers and Person Education Plans (PEPS) have been introduced to try and ensure the education of LAC does not suffer. If you have a looked after child or young person in your school you will receive a PEP form to complete from social services before their LAC review. Looked after children usually do not want to be treated in any way different from other pupils but some of them may need a bit of extra support at times.

The EWS has a link EWO for each of the residential units in the Southern Trust and they provide advice and support for the unit. Referrals for individual looked after children should be made to the SEWO in the usual way.

The Pupil Personal Development Service (PPDS) in the SELB provide training and support about LAC and PEPs. SELB/Southern Trust has developed information about LAC and this is available on the SELB website.

Young Carers

Often, when someone has an illness, disability, drug, alcohol or mental health issues, children or young people within the family may undertake a significant caring role. This can include providing direct care, for example assisting with:

Domestic tasks – cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry, DIY.

Personal care – washing/bathing, shaving, toileting, dressing.

Feeding or encouraging to eat and drink.

Administering medication or providing other medical care.

Providing emotional support, keeping someone company or ensuring someone is safe.

Managing challenging, unusual or unpredictable behaviour.

Translation and interpretation.

Children and young people may also help provide care to someone other than the person who has the illness/disability, therefore providing "care" also extends to assisting with the care of siblings.

Where children or young people undertake on a regular basis, tasks which would normally be carried out by an adult, they may be considered a young carer. Young carers are defined as Children in Need under the Children (NI) Order 1995 and are therefore are entitled to support. Referrals can be made to:

Armagh & Dungannon Area:
c/o Julia McKeown, Project Manager
Action for Children Northern Ireland
Loughshore House
10 Heron Road
Belfast BT3 9LE
Telephone: 028 9046 0500
email: julia.mckeown@actionforchildren.org.uk

Craigavon & Banbridge Area:
c/o Lesley McClelland, Administrator
Action for Children Northern Ireland
Banbridge Youth Centre
Hill Street
Banbridge BT32 4DP
Telephone: 028 4066 2509
email: cbyoungcarers@btinternet.com

Newry & Mourne Area:
c/o Sinead Houston, Senior Project Worker
Newry & Mourne Carers Association
6-8 Savages Terrace
Corry Square
Newry
BT35 6AT
Telephone: 028 3026 7015
email: sineadh@carers-nm.org

Being a young carer can impact negatively upon children and young people’s:

Physical Health
Emotional Wellbeing
Attendance and/or concentration at school
Academic attainment
Opportunities to socialise with their peers

Further information about support for Young Carers is available at http://youngcarersni.com/

Black and Ethnic Minority Children (BME)

The EWS has material translated into a number of different languages and has access to translators for home visits. If the EWO has to talk to a parent of a BME child in school, the school has responsibility for arranging for a translator through their normal procedures.

Safeguarding / Child Protection

All schools are required, by law to have a child protection policy that sets out how they will safeguard all the children enrolled in the school. It also sets out procedures for dealing with any child protection concerns. Schools should also have a code of conduct for staff that provides guidance about appropriate interaction with children and young people.

Safeguarding Team

All schools must have a designated teacher and deputy designated teacher, who together with the Principal and member of the Board of Governors with responsibility for child protection form the safeguarding team for their school.

What to do if abuse is suspected?

Designated teachers are legally obliged to inform social services if they have concerns that is child is suffering from abuse. They also have to complete a UNOCINI (Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland) form which includes information about the child, their family and the nature of the concerns and send this to their local Gateway team.

Support Available from the SELB

Child protection training is available for designated teachers, principals and designated Boards of Governors by the SELB’s Child Protection Support Service for Schools (CPSSS).

The CPSSS also provides a telephone child protection advice line service for designated teachers.

For information about child protection training or advice contact:- 028 38341975

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should parents be given a copy of the schools child protection policy?

Parents should be given information about child protection every other year. This does not have to be the entire policy but can be an outline. However, full copies of the policy should be available for parents if they ask for a copy.

How often should the designated teachers attend child protection training?

Newly appointed designated teachers should attend the two day ‘Introduction to Child Protection’ as soon as possible after they are appointed. Subsequent to this they should attend ‘Refresher’ training every third year.

Who is responsible for ensuring the school staff know about child protection?

The designated teacher should organise child protection awareness raising for the whole school staff every year. The Department of Education has developed a DVD to assist with this awareness training and all schools have been given a copy.
In addition to this the designated teacher should ensure that substitute teachers, volunteers and organisation that come into school to work with children and young people are aware of the school’s child protection policy.

Using parent volunteers in school

Many schools use parent volunteers in school and on school trips and they can be a valuable resource. Currently all volunteers who come into contact with children and young people should be vetted and this is carried out through SELB Human Resources.

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