Every child aged between 6 and 16 must receive an education. 
That is the law.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child aged between 6 and 16 you have a special role to play in ensuring that your child doesn’t miss out on his or her education.

The National Educational Welfare Board was set up under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. Our job is to support families and make sure that every child receives an education. Almost all children do this through school.

Your child has a right to an education.
A good education, combined with loving care and encouragement, will give your child a great start in life.

A good education means your child will be more likely to:

• learn more
• develop their skills and talents
• make and keep friends
• have more confidence
• do better at exams
• be happy in life
• be employed
• get a higher earning job when they start working
• avoid getting involved in crime
• be happy in life.

What you must do if your child cannot be at school
You must tell the school that your child cannot attend and say why. The school will tell you how to give them this information - usually, the school will ask for a note.

Very often, there will be good reasons for a child not being in school and these will be taken into account if they are explained to the school.

What the school must do if your child misses a lot of school
The school must tell us, the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), if your child has missed 20 days or more in the school year or if it is concerned that your child is missing too much school.

What we must do if your child misses a lot of school
If a school tells us, the NEWB, your child is missing too much school, an NEWB Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) may visit you to see how we can help to make sure that your child attends school more often.

Protecting your child’s right to education
We will help you in whatever way we can to ensure your child gets an education. However, you can be taken to court and fined or imprisoned if you do not co-operate with the Board.

Legal action will be taken in exceptional cases if it is the only way a child’s right to an education can be safeguarded.

Developing a National Service
The National Educational Welfare Board is beginning to develop a national service.

At present, Educational Welfare Officers work primarily with children who are not receiving an education and in areas with high levels of disadvantage.

The service will be extended further in accordance with the resources provided by the Government.

If problems arise for your child attending school
If you are unhappy with a decision on an expulsion, suspension or enrolment, you can appeal the decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. Telephone (01) 873 4700. 

What to do if you need support
You can contact an Educational Welfare Officer on Lo-call number 1890 36 36 66. 

Check out our website on www.newb.ie, email us at info@newb.ie or write to us at 16–22 Green Street, Dublin 7.