Bad attitude from EWO

[AmyLouise2024]

Hi,

Recently I've been In contact with the education welfare officer from my sons school due to low attendance which is now improving! He had a planned meeting in the school today a PCR which I had to cancel due to family emergency.
The EWO contacted me and was there for this meeting. The way she spoke to me on the phonecall has made me feel less than! Talking over me, talking down to me. The complete opposite of support! I've felt sick with anxiety all day.
Is there anything i can do about this? I understand this is her job but surely not to be rude, pressurising and intimidating.
Is It necessary that she attends these meetings about getting my son into a more supported school?? I'm not comfortable seeing her after today!

Before I vote can I ask what emergency made you cancel the meeting and why was yours DS attendance so bad?

I would image she was very frustrated that you didn't turn up for the meeting today OP. It's a bit ironic that the meeting was about your son's non attendance at school and you didn't attend the planned meeting. Whatever the reason for you not showing up today - you must admit it doesn't look good. These professionals from Education Welfare are there to help and support but if you don't show up then she can't help you. She wasted her time today when I would imagine she has a jam packed diary. You are clearly really struggling OP - make sure you do reach out to the support that is out there(not just EWOs) but you will have to engage and let them in.

What was so emergency that you had to cancel the meeting?

6 and 2 3s. To her, you're the ones with the bad attitudes if you need this support in the first place.

I get it's really hard trying to force kids who don't want to to attend school, but most people I know are of the opinion how hard is it to send your kids to school? Even 21 year old DS has far less sympathy for the parents of the several teenagers in my area who can't or won't go to school than I do!

The over used 'family emergency'.....

Why has your kid not been attending?

Is this primary or secondary?
Is your son attending at present?
What is the attendance figure?
What was the emergency and has an alternative meeting been planned?
What is a more supported school? Does your son have unmet needs or an EHCP?

Without information, no one can say whether she had any kind of attitude, but it does sound as though she was aggrieved that you failed to attend the meeting.

I agree with most of the previous posters and want to understand what on earth could be more important than this meeting and your child’s education. I have a school refuser so I do understand BUT I would never be taking offence and being all victim like when someone is trying to do their job. There is obviously a significant issue with your son - why doesn’t he go?