Tusla statement on the publication of ESRI’s ‘Review of the School Completion Programme’
Welcoming the ESRI Review of the School Completion Programme, Gordon Jeyes, Tusla Chief Executive, says: “Tusla’s work is about the child and family, about ensuring that supports are available and that the needs of the child are met. Education is as an essential aspect of a child’s welfare and Tusla’s focus is on providing the most appropriate services along the continuum of educational welfare which will best support attendance, retention and participation in education.
“As the report highlights, there is excellent practice being implemented under SCP, but the programme lacks coherence and strong governance. Reform of the programme is overdue.
“We need an integrated structure. In 2009, it was agreed that an integrated approach to educational welfare should be adopted; this involves closer links between home school community liaison, school completion and educational welfare. Each of these strands is now under Tusla’s remit and for the first time, we are in a position to incorporate educational welfare into the child welfare system.
“The best early intervention is the inclusive school. This is why attendance, participation and retention in full time education are embedded in service delivery for all children under Tusla’s Corporate Plan.”
Since January 2015 a comprehensive review of Educational Welfare Services has been undertaken and a number of actions have been taken, including:
- a new structure which will ensure integration of educational welfare services has been developed. This is now being implemented and advertising for a national leadership team will shortly take place;
- an Attendance Strategy document to give guidance to schools is in development and will be published in early 2016;
- new Educational Welfare posts have been sought and granted this year;
- a review of EWO caseloads;
- a revised Retention Plan;
- a stakeholder consultation on home schooling and education in places other than recognised schools.
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Review of the School Completion Programme |
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Aoife Greene or Sharon Waters 087 6348373