School attendance and absence

Education Welfare Service and Child Employment

We have moved all of our information to the Schools Hub website.

Our aim

The main aim of the Wokingham Education Welfare Service (EWS) is to ensure that all children and young people have access to statutory education and are able to regularly attend school.

How we can help

Our Education Welfare Officers achieve this aim by:

• Identifying attendance problems, addressing school refusal and identifying possible solutions.    
• Working with schools to develop strategic systems and procedures within schools to promote good attendance and reduce persistent absence.
• Explaining to parents their legal responsibility to ensure their child receives efficient and full time education. 
• Taking action through the Magistrates' Court if necessary 
• Referring to other agencies and professionals, such as Children’s Social Services and Educational Psychologists, when necessary 
• Offering support with home visits or meeting parents and pupils in school 
• Supporting parents to build good relationships with the school 

We work towards the Council Vision, Values and Priorities by:

• Improving educational attainment and focus on every child achieving their potential
• Improving the customer experience when accessing services
• Looking after vulnerable people
• Improving health, wellbeing and quality of life
• Delivering quality in all we do

Our responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the Education Welfare Service are:

• School attendance advice and guidance 
• Penalty notices and prosecution 
• Persistently absent pupils
• Child employment (including work permits), performance licences and chaperones
• Elective Home Education (otherwise known as Education Other Than at School or Home Schooling)
• Children Missing Education (CME)
• Attendance for Looked After Children 
• Exclusions
• Statutory reporting to the Department of Education and responding to Freedom of Information requests

Contact us

The Education Welfare Service is located at:

Wokingham Borough Council

Shute End

Wokingham

RG40 1BN

Email: education.welfare@wokingham.gov.uk

Telephone: 0118 974 6000