March 2004
Don't Let Your Child Miss Out' leaflet
Download the 'Don't Let Your Child Miss Out' (PDF Format)

The National Educational Welfare Board

School attendance agency launches first information leaflet and education helpline for parents, schools and children

Don’t let your child miss out was the clear message from the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) today when it launched the country’s first lo-call education helpline* and information leaflet for parents on school attendance. The NEWB is the new independent agency, set up to encourage school attendance and to ensure that young people receive an education.

"If children miss out on school they miss out on a lot more than just school work,” said Eddie Ward, Chief Executive. “A good education gives children the best possible start in life. Research has shown again and again that children who attend school regularly are more likely to stay in school and so are more likely to be emotionally, financially and socially secure in later life.”

"The leaflet and lo-call help line are part of our service to assist and advise parents, guardians, schools and children on the importance of education and of attending school. They are services which will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of many children in this country.”

The full colour leaflet will be posted to over 330,000 households and 4,000 schools over the coming week. It outlines the legal role and obligations of parents in ensuring that their children receive an education with practical tips on how they can make it easier for their children to attend and enjoy school. The leaflet also outlines the services of the National Educational Welfare Board.

The new lo-call help line* – 1890 36 36 66 – will be manned by trained Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The EWOs will provide practical help to parents, children and schools on education issues which may have a bearing on a child’s school attendance or their overall education.

Mr. Ward stressed that most parents want the best for their children and that they understand the importance of education. However, parents or guardians sometimes find themselves in a situation where their child refuses to go to school, where a suitable school may be unavailable or where a child might be suspended or expelled, for example, he said.

"The main role of the EWOs manning the help line is to listen attentively to the callers, to explore the reasons behind their concerns or issues, to deal with the issue if it is one related to school attendance particularly and to direct callers to a more appropriate source of advice if the issue is not one which can be dealt with directly by our service,” Eddie Ward explained. “Our main aim is that callers get off the line better informed and better resourced to deal with their concern or question than when they first called us. We’ll never say that’s not our business.”

The NEWB has 73 education welfare staff, providing an intensive service in six cities and 12 urban centres across the country. In addition, all urgent cases, that is children not in school or receiving an education, are dealt with by the Board. Further staff and services will come on stream according to resources made available by the Government.

Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, schools must now notify the NEWB if a child is absent for 20 days in the school year. Very often there will be good reasons for these absences. A child might be sick or there might have been a family difficulty. If there is a worry that a child is missing out on his or her education, an Educational Welfare Officer may visit the home to discuss the matter. The EWO will then work with the parents, the school and the family to see what can be done to ensure that the child returns to school or receives an adequate education.

Top Tips for Parents

The NEWB has practical tips for parents to help children attend and enjoy their time at school.

• Get to know the principal and other teachers. Read school letters and reports and try to attend parent-teacher meetings.

• Ask your child about his/her school day and encourage him/her to participate in school activities and sports. Praise and encourage the achievements of your child.

• Make sure that your child understands that you do not agree with him/her missing school. Be alert that children may not want to attend school if they are being bullied or are having difficulty with school work. Discuss any fears with the school immediately.

• Get your child to school on time. Late arrivals can be disruptive for everyone.

• Do not take holidays during school term. They count as absences.

* Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers