Service developments

Traded service

The EWS offers schools a traded service model through which they can receive the services of an experienced EWO. A Service Level Agreement will be drawn up with the school following agreement between the PEWO and school’s attendance lead about the activities the school requires from a menu of non-statutory work. A copy of the menu of activities can be obtained from the EWS describing the outcomes and related activities that schools can choose.

The menu of activities and subscription rates are based upon existing activities, but over time it is envisaged that the service will negotiate with schools to ensure that the activities offered meet the local challenges. Robust quality assurance mechanisms are built in, to ensure that the education welfare service is being deployed for the best possible outcomes for schools, children & young people and their families. To obtain a copy of the traded service brochure or SLA contact the EWS.

Education other than at School (EOTAS)

The term, Education Otherwise has traditionally been used to describe any educational provision parents make outside the school system (either state-funded or privately).

It is the statutory responsibility of parent’s to cause their child to receive education from the time they reach statutory school age, either at school or otherwise than at school.  

The LA has developed an Education Other Than at School policy which aims to provide clear guidance to schools and parents. A draft copy can be obtained from the EWS.

The EWS have arranged information sessions for all parents and children who are currently on the EOTAS register. These will take place once a term to provide support and give parents and families the opportunity to meet with each other and LA senior officers. Details and dates for the information sessions can be obtained from the EWS.

School attendance seminars

The target audience for these seminars are head teachers, school attendance leads, behaviour & attendance consultants and staff that have responsibility for recording and monitoring attendance in all primary, secondary, PRU’s, alternative providers and special schools.

The EWS will use these seminars as a platform to provide updates on any changes to legislation, guidance, government targets and priorities as they relate to the work of the EWS and schools.

We will be able to utilize these seminars to plan together the topics, areas of development and discussion we feel meets our local needs.

The 2011/2012 seminar program can be obtained from the EWS.

Partnership working with local GP’s

We have worked with health professionals to develop a protocol that individual schools and GP practices can sign up to. The aim of the guidance is to improve cooperation between local GPs and schools to promote health and well-being and to manage sickness absence, in order to maximize school attendance and reduce unnecessary attendances at GP surgeries and inappropriate requests for medical information. There is a summary that should be used in conjunction with the full guidance document. The protocol and summary has been produced following consultation with Waltham Forest Local Medical Committee (LMC) and the Children’s Trust Board.

The EWS provides the following statutory services:

  • Managing and chairing School Attendance Panels , to ensure appropriate actions have been taken and therefore prosecutions will be more likely to be successful
  • Issuing penalty notices
  • Discretionary parenting orders and education supervision orders
  • Up to date information to all schools and provisions about absence recording
  • Issuing summons to parents/carers*
  • Presenting cases in court and the prosecution of parents at Magistrates’ Court for failing to ensure regular attendance of their children at school
  • In the event of a ‘not guilty’ plea, conducting a full trial, including, presenting evidence & cross examination*
  • Non payment of penalty notices: prosecute for non attendance under Section 444(1).
  • Issuing permits for child employment;
  • Prosecution through courts for breaches of regulations concerning either child employment or performance licences
  • Issuing performance licences
  • Interviewing chaperones, checking CRBs and references and issuing licences for chaperones;
  • Inspection of theatres or other places of performance, if concerns arise
  • Contributing to safeguarding in specific cases and contribution to Child Protection case conferences and meetings, where EWS is involved in the case
  • Ensuring all schools and provisions have up to date information about attendance regulations
  • Supporting school improvement by providing advice and guidance on strategic policy development
  • Inspecting school attendance registers (to be undertaken at least annually)  (Academies and Free Schools are exempt)
  • Reviewing Waltham Forest Attendance Guidance Manuel and Code of Conduct for the issuing of penalty notices (this can be obtained from the EWS)

Non statutory services provided are:

  • monitoring the attendance of children in care and
  • specialist EWO support for young offenders known to YOS

Specific service standards

  • Rigorous staff recruitment and selection processes
  • Consistently applied comprehensive Performance Management Appraisal Process
  • Comprehensive staff professional development programme
  • An annual review of SLA’s with the appropriate staff in schools that subscribed to the traded service
  • Development and dissemination of policies, procedures and guidance   in accordance with current government guidance and statutory requirements
  • Support to schools to raise attendance at primary and secondary school in line with the Department for Education expectation

» Download July 2011 Press Release on persistent absence

In order to serve you effectively we request that schools: -

  • Provide absence data returns each term for submission to the DFE
  • Provide Persistent Absence (PA) data each half term to the EWS
  • Support the EWS to conduct annual register audits to ensure school registers are maintained in accordance with The Education (Pupils Registration) Regulations 2006 and The Education (Pupil Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 1997
  • Use all the prescribed DfE absences codes consistently throughout the school
  • Support parents in promoting the regular attendance of their children
  • Develop and annually review the school’s Attendance Policy, and ensure this document is disseminated to all staff across the school
  • Appoint a designated member of staff to oversee the management of attendance matters

Documents referred to on this web page will shortly be available electronically

Contact us

Education Support Service
Summerfield Centre
99 Leyton Green Road
Leyton, E10 6DB

Tel  020 8496 1718/1719
Fax 020 8520 9852
Email ews@walthamforest.gov.uk