School Attendance and Pupil Welfare
Education Welfare Service Team
Education Welfare Officers play a vital role within the education system, supporting children, young people, and families to overcome barriers to regular school attendance. Their role is both supportive and statutory, focusing on improving school attendance and promoting the wellbeing, safety and inclusion of learners. Working in partnership with schools, families, and other agencies, Education Welfare Officers help ensure every learner can access their right to education in a safe and supportive environment.
With a trauma informed approach at the heart of their practice, our Education Welfare Officers prioritise empathy, consistency, and the development of trusting relationships. They work closely with schools, families and partner agencies to identify and address the underlying causes of poor or irregular attendance through early, coordinated support. This may include a wide range of factors such as health difficulties, additional learning needs, social or emotional challenges, family circumstances, or safeguarding concerns.
Education Welfare Officers also help schools fulfil their legal duties around attendance, safeguarding, and learner welfare, while promoting a positive culture of engagement and inclusion.
If you are concerned about your child’s attendance or are facing challenges that are impacting their ability to attend school regularly, your local Education Welfare Officer can provide practical advice, advocacy, and access to wider support. The goal is always to work together, schools, families, and services, to remove barriers, promote wellbeing, and help every child reach their full potential.
In addition to supporting children in school settings, the Education Welfare Service plays a key role in supporting families who choose to Electively Home Educate (EHE). Our EHE Advisors work directly with families to ensure that home educated children receive a suitable, efficient, and age-appropriate education. These advisors offer guidance, regular contact, and the opportunity for supportive visits to help families navigate home education and feel confident in their approach.
The EHE Assistant provides essential administrative support, helps maintain accurate records, and ensures timely communication between families and the local authority. Together, the EHE team adopts a non-judgemental, partnership-based approach, respecting parental choice while prioritising the best interests and educational outcomes of every child.
EHE families are also supported through signposting to local resources, services, and events that enhance the learning experience, and by helping to ensure safeguarding measures are in place where necessary.
The Education Welfare Service is also committed to supporting children from armed forces families, who often face unique challenges such as mobility, parental deployment, or transitions between different education systems.
In collaboration with Supporting Service Children in Education in Wales (SSCE Cymru) (opens in a new tab), our team works to ensure that the needs of service children are recognised and supported across Wales. This includes close partnership working with SSCE Cymru School Liaison Officers, who help identify service children within schools, promote best practice, and facilitate a smoother educational journey for these learners.
These Liaison Officers play an essential role in raising awareness among school staff about the experiences of service children, ensuring schools have the tools and understanding needed to respond effectively. They also help schools develop policies, practices, and transition plans that support stability and continuity for service children and their families.
Together, our Education Welfare Officers, EHE team, and partners such as SSCE Cymru are committed to promoting inclusion, access, and educational success for all learners, whatever their background or learning context.
For further information
Educationwelfareservice@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
01437 77764551
029 2046 8616