Education welfare officers (EWOs)
Education welfare officers work for Kent County Council and
their job is to make sure all children are getting a
suitable education. To do this, they often have to make sure that
parents are meeting their own responsibilities in sending their
child to school and making sure they attend.
The education welfare officers works with parents, children and
the school to improve attendance and behaviour. Most often, a
school will contact the EWO with details of children
who have not been attending regularly, but you can also ask for
support yourself.
What happens if my child's school refers my child to Education
Welfare?
- The EWO will arrange a time to
come and see you.
- When they come, they will want to find out why your child
hasn't been attending school. They will ask you about what you
think of the situation, and you may discuss putting together a plan
to help you get your child back to attending school regularly.
Attending school regularly is very important for your child's
education. You need to do everything you can, with the support of
the EWO, to
make sure that your child overcomes their attendance problems and
goes back to school.
If you don't work with your child's school and the education
welfare officers, or don't take the support and advice they offer,
Kent County Council have the right to take legal
proceedings against you.
To find out how to get in touch with an education welfare
officers, please call your nearest area office.