Education Welfare
| Chief Education Welfare Officer | ||
| Mr T McGonagle | T: 028 8241 1477 | E: tony_mcgonigle@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Omagh | ||
| Mrs R McElholm | T: 028 8241 1417 | E: roisin_mcelholm@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Strabane | ||
| Mrs P Devine | T: 028 7188 4027 | E: p_devine@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Enniskillen | ||
| Ms H Moore | T: 028 6634 3900 | E: hazel_moore@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Projects | ||
| Miss N Topping | T: 028 8241 1461 | E: nicola_topping@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Derry | ||
| Mr M Cunningham | T: 028 7127 2300 | E: m_cunningham@welbni.org |
| Senior Education Welfare Officer - Derry | ||
| Ms A Lynch | T: 028 7127 2300 | E: a_lynch@welbni.org |
The Education Welfare Section has a duty to ensure that all children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. This duty is exercised through the Education Welfare Service and the dominant function of its Education Welfare Officers is to investigate children's absence from school and to promote good attendance. The Education Welfare Service also undertake a number of other important related duties around:
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Child protection
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Child employment
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Special educational needs
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Child behaviour in schools
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Suspensions and expulsions
Education Welfare Officers work closely with schools and families to resolve attendance issues and difficulties between home and school. The key to success is an effective working relationship between schools and the Education Welfare Service. This includes:
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Shared policies and operational practices between the Education Welfare teams and the schools in their area
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Clearly defined roles of school staff and the Education Welfare Officer
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How much time the Education Welfare Officer will devote to the school
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Expectation of the quality of the Education Welfare Officer's Service
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Arrangements for referral, regular review, monitoring and evaluation
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Procedures for resolving difficulties
It is important that the
Education Welfare Officer maintains an appropriate balance in
resolving difficulties between schools and families so
mediation is more appropriate than advocacy.
The Education Welfare Section has a duty to ensure that all children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. This duty is exercised through the Education Welfare Service and the dominant function of its Education Welfare Officers is to investigate children's absence from school and to promote good attendance. The Education Welfare Service also undertake a number of other important related duties around: