Education Welfare Service

This page is known as: www.birmingham.gov.uk/education-welfare

The work of the Education Welfare Service (EWS) focuses on these key areas:

School Attendance
The Education Welfare Service promotes the importance of regular school attendance and investigates the causes of poor attendance. When a young person has a record of absences, or has stopped going to school altogether, Education Welfare staff work with
parents and carers, school staff and other agencies,
including the Courts, to restore attendance.

Pupil Connect
Safeguarding Birmingham pupils' access to education. The Pupil Connect Team is a collaboration between the Education Welfare Service and the Behaviour Support Service. Pupil Connect identifies, tracks, monitors and works to reconnect those children who, for a range of reasons, have become disconnected from education.

Child Protection Lead Office in the Local Authority
The Education Welfare Service takes lead responsibility for the Local Authority in matters of Child Protection. EWS provides the link to the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB); provides written guidance notes to schools; provides advice, guidance and practical support in cases of child protection referral; co-ordinates information for Designated Teachers in schools; co-ordinates training courses through Birmingham LSCB and the Health Education Unit.

Child Employment and Entertainment Licensing
The Education Welfare Service investigates and monitors employment undertaken by young people under 16 years old, to ensure that it is legal and safe, and that it does not damage or interrupt their education. As part of this, it is responsible for issuing licences to employers. Whatever type of part-time employment a young person undertakes, even a paper round, for example, the employer must apply for, and be granted, a licence, before the young person can start work. There are strict laws that govern the employment of young people, which also apply to young people involved in performances, filming or modelling assignments.