Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Education Welfare Service

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on the status of the document one child, one team, one plan; if he will arrange to make this document available on his Department's website and if he will outline his plans for each of the services covered by this document. [52597/12]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the auspices of my Department, has a statutory remit to ensure that ‘each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education’. The Education Welfare Service, and its network of Education Welfare Officers (EWOs), is a key resource for the Board in delivering on this statutory remit.

Following a decision by Government in 2009, the Board undertook strategic and operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme in addition to its Education Welfare Service. The Board was tasked with developing a single strategic approach to attendance, participation and retention in the education system to effectively utilise and target the significant resources available across the three service strands.

In working to deliver this integrated approach to school support services the Board has committed to a practice model based on the principle of “One Child, One Team, One Plan ”. I am advised by the Board that this practice model is now in the final stages of development.

The model will sit within the wider continuum of practice encompassing universal and preventative work at one end with targeted and intensive intervention at the other. It has been designed to ensure that the approach used by NEWB services is systematic, professional and based upon best practice. Significantly, this proposed referral-based model takes a consistent approach to working with pupils from point of referral to achievement of outcomes across all schools. The development and implementation of this service model will enhance delivery of NEWB services to children, families and schools with a view to improving educational outcomes. This is a significant step towards realising the commitment in the Programme for Government to protect and enhance the educational experience of children and young people.

The Board has drawn upon contributions and feedback received from schools over the last 12 months in the development process to date. A consultation process around One Child, One Team, One is currently being undertaken by the Board with staff services and relevant stakeholders. Both the draft practice model and related schools guidance document are publicly available on .

The Board envisages that the model will be finalised shortly with implementation to commence in 2013.

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