Q. What can the Education Welfare Service do for me?
The Pupil Welfare Service aims for children to attain their full potential both educationally and socially.
Pupil Welfare Officers and Assistants have a duty to support schools in achieving high levels of school attendance. They visit schools regularly to consult and give advice to teachers and check attendance registers. They help parents ensure their children of school age attend regularly and punctually and where appropriate, the service initiates court action.
The service also issues employment and entertainment licenses, monitors those educated at home and provides training for schools and other services on issues of child protection as well as attendance.
Q. Who should I talk to If my child is experiencing difficulty in attending school?
You should firstly discuss the matter with your child’s form or class teacher. In secondary schools there is often a member of staff employed to deal specifically with attendance issues.
If the problems continue you may be visited by the LEA Pupil Welfare Officer or Assistant linked to the school. The Pupil Welfare Service offers a range of advice and support in order to resolve the problems of irregular school attendance.
Q. When is a child of statutory school age and when can (s)he leave?
The compulsory school age for a child to start full time education is at the beginning of the school term after the child’s 5th birthday.
Children must remain in education until the last Friday in June in the school year in which the child reaches 16.
Q. Can my child who is attending school work part-time?
You need to apply for either a work permit if the child is of statutory school age or an entertainment licence. Application forms are available from the Pupil Welfare Service at Greenbank,
Fir Bank Road, Royton, Oldham OL2 6TU or by phoning 0161 627 2700.
There are restrictions on the hours and type of work deemed appropriate and a medical may be required.
Q. Can I take my child on holiday during term time?
Any absence can hinder a child’s educational progress and parents are encouraged to take holidays outside term time. It is at the school’s discretion to authorise any absences and all schools have a protocol for parents to follow in requesting permission for holidays.
Q. How do I claim Free School Meals?
Contact Education Welfare Benefits 0161 770 3202.
Q. I want to teach my child at home, how do I go about it?
The Education Out-of-School Services, Level 6, Civic Centre (Tel 0161 770 3235) will be able to provide you with information and advice on home education.
Q. How is home tuition arranged?
The L.E.A. only provides home tuition for children who are out of school because of illness. This is provided by the Home and Hospital Teaching Service.
Q. Can I get assistance with home to school travel?
The Authority do have a published policy on Home to School/College travel, contact Education and Cultural Service, Pupil Service, Level 6 Civic Centre, West St Oldham. Tel: 0161 770 3209/4233/3160
Q. My application for home to school travel has been rejected, can I appeal?
Yes. Please contact Education and Cultural Service, Pupil Service Level 6, Civic Centre, West St, Oldham Tel: 0161 770 3209/4233/3160.
Q. How can my child access support from a specialist teacher?
Ask at the school you child attends to have an assessment carried out. If you have already done this and are experiencing problems then contact the SEN Teaching Service Manager Julie Sweeting on Tel 0161 770 3110.
Q. How do I request a Statement Of Special Educational Need?
Please contact Education and Cultural Service, Pupil Service, Level 6, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham. 0161 770 3208
Q. Can I appeal against a decision regarding a Statement of Special Educational Need?
Yes. Please contact,Education and Cultural Service, Pupil Service, Level 6, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham 0161 770 3208.
Q. What happens when a pupil is excluded?
The school will inform you of the exclusion . They will also tell you about any meetings to discuss the exclusion and your right of appeal . Work will be provided by the school if this is a fixed term exclusion. A child who is permanently excluded from school will be supported by the Pupil Support Centre. The PSC will teach the child and will support the child and family in a move to a new school.
The Headteacher of a school can exclude a child because the child has behaved inappropriately.
Q. Are there different types of exclusion?
Yes. A pupil can be excluded:
For a fixed term.
That means the pupil cannot go to school for a specified number of days. After that time the pupil returns to school . A pupil can be excluded from school on a fixed term basis for up to 45 days in a school year.
Permanently.
This means that the pupil will not normally return to that school.
At lunch times.
This can be used if a pupil is only misbehaving during the lunchtime break. This should only be for a limited period of time.
Q. Where can I get further advice on exclusion?
The exclusion process is very complicated and you are quite right to seek further advice and assistance. Please telephone the Education Out-of-School Services, 0161 770 3158 for guidance and support.