Truancy
Improving attendance at school
For all sorts of reasons, children miss out when they don't attend school when they should - not only does their education and development suffer, but their safety is also a concern. Barnet Council works hard to make sure that truancy is minimised by working with families, schools and the wider community to ensure that children are at school when they should.
Barnet council promotes full school attendance for all pupils in all Barnet schools, including those in the independent sector.
If children are employed to do modelling or film work during school hours, then you must apply for a permit.
Working with families
Our Education Welfare Officers work with schools to identify pupils whose attendance is of concern and seek to help families resolve problems through support and negotiation. Parents who fail to work with their Education Welfare Officer may find a range of legal sanctions used to enforce their children’s school attendance:
- Prosecution in a Magistrates’ Court
- Referral to the Family Court for an Education Supervision Order
- Issuing of a Fixed-penalty Notice of £50
The council operates a Fast-track to Attendance scheme designed to ensure that pupils with poor attendance attend school satisfactorily within a twelve-week period. Failure to cooperate with this scheme results in the prospect of legal action. Education Welfare Officers also use in-depth casework where there are complex problems to try and solve any under-lying problems.
Working with schools
Education Welfare Officers work within schools to promote good school attendance before any problems arise by using presentations, assemblies and focused activities appropriate to the needs of individual schools.
The 'Barnet Bears can't bear to miss school' scheme is used in local Primary schools to raise pupil awareness about the importance of going to school.
Working with the community
Working closely with the Police on Truancy Sweeps and stopping children who are in public areas in school time, whether or not they are with parents, is also an effective way to improve school attendance. Apart from promoting a return to school, Truancy Sweeps are effective in discouraging young people from entering into anti-social or criminal activities.
Safeguarding children
Education Welfare Officers work with other agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people, including
- Children’s Social Care
- Housing
- Youth Offending Service
- Barnet Action 4 Youth
- Impact: dealing with drug and alcohol abuse
- Education Welfare services across the UK
Children in employment
The Licensing and Placement Officer issues performance licences to organisations employing children in theatre, film and modelling. Also, children over 13 years of age who want to work can be issued with a work permit. It is illegal for children to work without the appropriate permit or performance licence.
Contact details
Tel :020 8359 7684
Fax:0870 889 6799
Email:ewt@barnet.gov.uk
Related Service Area Information: Education Welfare Team
Children, young people and families
