All professionals should ensure that they have permission to make a referral either via their own information sharing agreements or via direct parental consent.
All referrers must have followed their own usual statutory processes, and have discussed the referral with their manager who must agree it meets threshold.
Additionally, it is important that any professional making a referral ensures that they understand what is already happening to support attendance, in particular current actions and involvements by the EWS and others, before making a referral. Other professionals who wish to refer in must first liaise with the school and the named Attendance Advisor/EWO for the school and consult with them to understand what support school has already put in place and what actions are already taking place.
The protocol is not designed to replace usual multi-agency working, normal supervision processes or statutory duties. It is for additional advice, direction and decision making.
- Schools can request their EWO to make a referral on their behalf. We do not accept referrals directly from schools.
- Education Welfare Officers
- ‘Children Not in School’ (Elective Home Education/Children Missing Education) Officers
- Virtual School Deputy Head on behalf of Team Members
- Admissions Manager
- SEN Manager or Senior Caseworkers (after agreement at SEN Panel)
- Social Workers – after consultation with CP/CIN Education Advisors and their own manager
- IROs, Child Protection and Child In need Chairs
- Early Help practitioners
- Route 29 Education Leads
- Salford Information Advice and Support Services (SIASS)
- YJS keyworkers
- Other professionals who work with a child or family, for example Educational Psychologists, health, CAMHS
Parents are unable to refer directly, and should contact their school EWO if there is an attendance issue that they need support with.