Education welfare officer - ask me anything

[sheepplayhideandseek]

Ask me anything.

@bluefoxmug so home education isn't allowed? Interesting... to be honest I probably have a swayed opinion as I don't see the positive end of home education but I guess that's up to that country if they make that decision in the best interests of educating their children.

Child is asd, been fighting for an ehcp and just applying again. Child has not been in education for months and just can't go due to depression. Where do I stand with you?

Which do you prefer: Wotsits or Pringles?

@sheepplayhideandseek thank you
I'm more worried about getting fined or court proceedings, we can carry on education at home but we can't de-reg as it will cause issues with the appeal process. I was wondering as we're being blamed for the breakdown (despite us having actual evidence) if EWO would take the same view and start pursuing us.
I guess I'll just have to see what happens in September. Is there any point in me trying to contact EWO myself? Or do they only speak to parents when the school report something.

@TheMumblesofMumbledom really comes down to whether medical professionals are saying child is well enough to go to school or not. Do you see CAMHS? We would never go against the advice or medical opinion of a medical professional. Ideally, parents, school, camhs and ewo all meet to discuss.

My experience with EWO was positive. A HT threatened to report me to them because I pulled my DD out of her school, with a place secured to start at another school 3 days later. The HT said if I didn't take her to school the next day, she'd report me and get me prosecuted. So I reported myself! The EWO chuckled a bit, said she wasn't interested in the slightest with DD2's absence and said she'd make notes on the system that DD2 had a new school place starting in 3 days and was being kept home in the mean time.

As it happens, I was able to get her to start the new school the next day, in the end, as the new HT was super kind and the new teacher stayed late to get DD2's books, tray and peg ready for her.

@CalledYouLastNightFromWaitrose can't speak for your ewo or local authority but dining and prosecution is always, always a last resort. We do do it but only as a last resort and if we can see that it is actually likely to achieve something. Very rare in complex cases like yours sound and where ehcps are involved but it does sound like there are lots of detailed circumstances with your situation. I would definitely approach the ewo. If you called me I'd certainly talk to you and even if I couldn't do anything to move things forward I'd still talk to other professionals on your behalf and try to do what I could. I'd also reassure you that fining was unlikely.

@Lougle oh dear. Some schools can be a bit feisty and over zealous yes. Following the letter of the law you should only leave one school immediately before you start another without a gap, so that was probably her starting point, but realistically it's really not significant. She certainly didn't have to threaten to report you, I hate it when schools use us as a stick to threaten parents with because actually all we really want to do is help resolve any situation that will get a child into school more often, and thriving once they are there. I'm glad your experience with the ewo was positive.

@moopoohootoo definitely pringles

@moopoohootoo definitely pringles

I used to be on first name terms with our local EWO’s when I dealt with child licensing. Have things improved in this area as the regulations used to be interpreted very differently in different areas?

@Comefromaway I used to do some of the child licensing work but it was taken out of our service many years ago now

Is your LA hands-on or hands-off wrt HE? I HE DD2 for a while after school 2 and I got a letter to say "We hear you've decided to HE. Great, if you want us, we're here, if not, good luck!" Reading on MN it seems that some LAs are much more keen to be involved with HE families and monitor.

@Lougle we don't have the resources to do much. The law is such that we don't have to do much so we are fairly hands off but that's come about as a result of the years of budget and staff cuts

I was an utter sod at Comprehensive school and my EWO took me under his wing. I barely ever went to school. You people can really make a difference!
I'm a teacher now.

06sheepplayhideandseek, the parents took the child from two schools and kept child at home. The mother has mh issues(won't take her medication) and has been sectioned previously but she lacks insight into the situation she has created for the child. The blame is put on the child's peers at school when it's not relevant. Would education dept look at mh of parent in this case or just the alleged reports of bullying?

@CalledYouLastNightFromWaitrose I have been in a similar situation, I informed Education Welfare myself and fundamentally they weren't interested that dd wasn't in school. I later learned that in our LA parents of children with EHCPs were not prosecuted for non attendance and so they probably weren't interested as there was no course of action available to them.
You should write to the LA quoting Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 states that "Each local education authority shall make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them." Mention also the LGO report "Out of school Out of Mind" and ask them to make alternative educational provision through a home tutor until appeal to SENDIST has taken place.
LGO recently ordered our LA to pay dd £2k for not supplying a tutor whilst we waited for Tribunal.

@footprintsintheslow that's an amazing story, thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad that you found your ewo so helpful and what a great ending!

@Horseshoe5 yes they need to consider all factors definitely, parental mental health is hugely significant. I'd be surprised if anyone ignore that

What qualifications do you need to be an EWO? Is it a role that social workers/teachers tend to gravitate towards?

@Violetroselily I believe you can do a course at a uni somewhere but I don't know anyone that's done it. It tends to be a job that attracts people who have worked with families in some way, yes social workers and school staff have taken on the role, family workers, that sort of thing.

how often do you come across school likke settings?
is it you who determine if it actually is a school or are those other departments?

Our city's alternative provision is a place to be avoided. It has a terrible Ofsted , children from different ethnic backgrounds fighting etc. If a child with SEN but no EHCP gets excluded, what can be provided for them instead ?

@bluefoxmug illegal schools. Yes it would be our work... and other areas of the local authority too. Fortunately not really an issue in the area I work in but yes it's an ongoing concern

@bluefoxmug illegal schools. Yes it would be our work... and other areas of the local authority too. Fortunately not really an issue in the area I work in but yes it's an ongoing concern