Education Welfare Service

There are about 39,369 children in Wolverhampton age 5 – 16 who attend 18 Secondary schools, 80 Primary/Infant/Junior schools, 7 Special Schools and 7 Nursery schools.

Supporting Schools, Parents and children

The Education Welfare Service is mainly responsible for supporting schools, parents and children in order to make sure that attendance is as high as possible.   Every school has an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) attached and parents are welcome to contact them for advice at any time.  If the school has concerns about a child’s attendance, they may make a formal referral to the Education Welfare Officer who will then contact parents, organise home visits, arrange meetings etc.

The Education Welfare Officer

If parents do not co-operate in these procedures, and their child continues to have unauthorised absence from school, they may be invited to a formal meeting with a Senior Education Welfare Officer.  This is the first step in considering whether legal action may be needed.  Parents whose children are not attending as they should can be issued with a Penalty Notice (a fine of up to £100 for each parent and for each child concerned). If the Notice if not paid, prosecution in the Magistrates Court will follow when other penalties may be imposed if the parent is convicted.

Compulsory attendance

It is important that parents understand that attendance is compulsory between age 5 and the end of Year 11 (16+) if they have chosen to educate their child at a school.  If parents do not co-operate with EWOs and school staff, or if they actively encourage the child not to come to school, they may be committing an offence.  Every effort will be made to resolve any problems the child may be having at school and to support parents in carrying out their responsibilities.  But legal proceedings will be considered if required.

Further information is available from the Education Welfare Officer connected to your child’s school.