School Attendance and the Education Welfare Service

Monmouthshire County Council aims for all children in the county to have the best start in life. Attending school regularly greatly improves a child’s chances of fulfilling their potential and receiving a full-time education.

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have.

Regular school attendance has a positive effect on children and young people and a strong impact on learner outcomes, standards, and progression. Regular attendance supports the development of literacy and numeracy skills, and the conceptual understanding needed for further study and success in the workplace.

The schools Head Teacher or Attendance Lead are key contacts in the first instance if there is decline in attendance and discussions around support to improve school attendance can be held. If further support is required and attendance has decreased below the persistent absence level a referral to Education Welfare Service could be made by school for involvement.

School attendance advice

If parents do not inform the school on the first day of absence, then all schools will action their First Day Response processes following up on pupil absence. This may involve telephone contact or inviting parents and pupil to a meeting in school.

Each school has a named Education Welfare Officer (EWO) in Monmouthshire who is in contact with the school and visits regularly to meet with the Head Teacher or designated staff member.

Where a school has exhausted its internal processes and then referred the case to the Education Welfare Service, discussions are undertaken between the school and the Education Welfare Officer. Any barriers to engagement and non-attendance that may be affecting the child’s attendance at school will be discussed and support strategies implemented. The Education Welfare Officer will also outline the legislation and legal responsibilities and the importance of regular school attendance.

The parents are committing an offence if they fail to ensure that their child(ren) attends school regularly and on time, even if they are missing without parents’ knowledge (Truancy)

When school and the Education Welfare Service have exhausted all avenues of support to improve school attendance and there are unauthorised absences and attendance has failed to improve, the Education Welfare Service have a duty to consider legal action. Parents can be prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Court.

The Local Authority can also request a Parenting Order, School Attendance Order (SAO) or Education Supervision Order (ESO) through the court.

Supporting school attendance

What parents can consider in supporting their child’s school attendance

Discussions with parents and their child(ren) will enable discussions with school around possible supportive measures that can lead to an improvement in school attendance and build on school and home relationships.

There are supportive elements that can be considered at home for example:

Communicating the value of education
Communicate any issues with school
Build on a good routines and structures around, bedtime, uniform and breakfast
Ensure that all necessary and appropriate equipment is available
Has the correct uniform that has been outlined in school policy
Take an interest in the child’s education
Ask the child about their day, listen, praise and encourage achievements which will have a positive impact on their attendance.

There are agencies available to support children and families within Monmouthshire, parent can speak to their school for contact details