The principal aim of the service is to maximise attendance at school for all children.
The Education Welfare Service in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council is responsible for carrying out the LEA's legal duty in respect of school attendance by investigating whether a child is attending school satisfactorily.
The principal aim of the service is to maximise attendance at school for all children of compulsory school age in accordance with relevant legislation by working in partnership with pupils, parents, schools and other agencies.
What are parent's responsibilities?
Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children receive education in accordance with section 7 of the Education Act 1996 and that they regularly attend school.
This means that children must:
What will happen if my child does not attend school regularly?
A representative from the Education Welfare Service reviews all pupils with unsatisfactory attendance and works closely with the pastoral staff in school to examine the reasons for absence. An action plan will be devised for those pupils without justified reason for absence and those pupils whose authorised absence appears to be unreasonably extended. The action taken includes interviewing pupils in schools, telephone contact with parents, interviewing parents in schools, written correspondence and home visits.
Can I be prosecuted for not sending my child to school?
All children between the ages of 5 and 16 are required by law to attend the school at which they are registered. Legal action can be taken, if it is considered that a parent/carer is not fulfilling their legal responsibility to ensure their child receives education in line with the 1996 Education Act.
Penalties can include fines up to £2,500 for each parent, consideration of a parenting order or a period of imprisonment.
There is a fast track procedure in place which will support the child back into education within 13 weeks. Failure to work with this procedure will result in the matter being placed before the Magistrates Court.
As part of this procedure parents/carers will be asked to enter into a parenting contract.
This contract will identify the actions both the parent/carer, school and Education Welfare Officer agree to take to help the child return to regular attendance.
Every Mum, Dad and carer needs support from time to time, especially if their child is having problems at school. As a parent or carer, you can get this support through a parenting contract.
The new Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced Fixed Penalty Notices as an additional sanction to address the problem of poor school attendance. This means that for pupils with unauthorised absence from school (i.e. any absence that the school has not given permission for) their parents/carers may be subject to a prompt fine of either £50 or £100.
Penalty Notices will be used as a deterrent to prevent a pattern of unauthorised absence developing. They will be issued simply by post to a pupils` home after possibly just one warning and cases of absence without acceptable cause will also include pupils caught on truancy sweeps, excessive holidays in term time and persistent late attendance after the register has closed.
These notices add to the Authority's existing legal powers to enforce attendance and cases of persistent unauthorised absence will also remain subject to action under powers of the 1996 Education Act, which include prosecution and a criminal record if convicted.
Schools will inform you if your child is not attending and/or is frequently late and also if homework is not being completed.
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Who is a parent?
The education-related provisions of the Anti Social Behaviour Act apply to all parents who fall within the definition set out in section 576 of the Education Act 1996. This defines `parent` as: all natural parents, whether they are married or not; any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility (as defined in the Children Act 1989) for a child or young person; and any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person. Having care of a child or young person means that a person with whom the child lives and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their relationship is with the child, is considered to be a parent in education law.
When does my child cease to be of compulsory school age?
A person is of compulsory school age when they attain the age of 5 and cease to be of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach age 16.
Until that date parents or guardians must ensure their child's participation in education, at school or otherwise.
This requirement is binding on all children and their parents/guardians whether or not the child is enrolled in school. If a child is enrolled in school, he or she cannot leave school until the last Friday in June.
What do I do if I am having difficulty getting my child to attend school?
It is very important that you speak with the school or with the Education Welfare Service at the earliest opportunity if you have any worries at all about securing your child's attendance.
Each school has an allocated Education Welfare Officer. Both the school and the Education Welfare Officer will give you advice and support to help you fulfil your responsibility to secure an improvement in your child's attendance.
If you wish to make contact with your Education Welfare Officer please telephone 01482 392146, email education.welfare@eastriding.gov.uk, or write to the Education Welfare Service, County Hall, Beverley, HU17 9BA, East Riding of Yorkshire.
My child needs to be absent from school who do I notify?
If a child is absent from school, parents must contact the school as early as possible on the first day of absence.
On your child's return to school always send a signed note which should be dated and give the reason for absence.
Any absence can disrupt your child's education so children must not be kept away from school for reasons such as:
I want to take my child out of school for a family holiday during term time, who do I need to inform?
To be updated shortly. Please contact the Education Welfare Service on 01482 392146 or email education.welfare@eastriding.gov.uk . Alternatively you may wish to discuss this with the Headteacher of your child's school.
