Core Package
Core Packages accompany all service level agreements. VSE shall provide the Customer with access to professionally trained Educational Welfare Officer / Consultant whom through liaising with pupils, parents, relevant agencies and the implementation of supportive measures assist the pupils return to the classroom and continued attendance.
Attendance Audit
Inspecting existing procedures; Reviewing attendance related documentation; Supporting communication between home and school; Interviewing staff and pupils; Analysing attendance data; Recommending strategies to be used to promote better attendance; Evaluating the effectiveness of Education Welfare and Attendance Support.
Education Welfare (EW) Casework
Education Welfare casework is undertaken by the Education Welfare Consultant or Caseworker linked to an Academy or School. An initial assessment of needs is completed with parents/carers and pupils to work out a plan of action, to help improve pupil attendance. A range of strategies are employed, combining assistance, with insistence, where necessary.
EW casework involves the setting of time limited and reviewed improvement targets. Intervention may be limited to a single home visit. In other instances, there may be complex reasons for absence resulting in more intense casework. In such situations, a plan of support is put in place, which might mean hands on support in getting students to school or referral on for further support from agencies such as Social Care or CAMHs, to help support and resolve ongoing family issues.
The Education Welfare Consultant will provide School/Academy with regular written feedback on pupils with whom work is being undertaken. In cases where the main causes of non-attendance may be school related, the EC will discuss these concerns and support the School/Academy to develop strategies to overcome these difficulties.
Pre-Referral Meetings
VSE will chair attendance meetings between school, other professionals and parent/carer when attendance is of concern. Pre-Referral Meetings will be used to offer support, advice and guidance to schools, parents and pupils.
School Attendance Meetings
Attendance Meetings with staff in charge of attendance at the School/Academy will be used to monitor, make recommendations and offer strategic support for staff dealing with pupils with 95% attendance or below.
Education Welfare Consultant will provide Schools/Academies with written summaries of School Attendance Meetings, highlighting agreed remedial actions such as home visits or in-house sanctions etc. VSE will carry out home visits for all referred cases regardless of which London Borough they reside. Home visits will be used to carry out an assessment on the family which can be used as evidence in Court if legal proceedings become necessary. Home visits are subject to a risk assessment.
Court Warnings
VSE will issue court warnings should a pupil’s attendance not improve, following failure of all agreed school interventions and support. VSE can issue a minimum of two warnings before arranging a court panel where an assessment for court is completed.
Court Panels
Court Panels will be chaired by a VSE representative as a preventative measure, before referral to the Local Authority (LA) for immediate prosecution. Schools/Academies may need to be represented in Court Panel Meetings by a senior member of staff or to provide a report, highlighting the impact of a pupil’s poor attendance on their social, emotional and academic achievement.
Preparation for Court and Referral to Residing Borough to Present In Court
In partnership with Schools/Academies VSE will provide the required evidence to the local authority if pupil(s) attendance does not improve within agreed timescales.
VSE Support Desk Service
Available to all schools between 8.30am – 4.15pm Monday to Friday (term time only excluding bank holidays). A VSE representative will be available to consult directly with service users regarding school attendance or safeguarding via telephone or e-mail.