PARENTS should contact schools for additional support if they are concerned their child has missed education for an extended period, a council official has said.
An independent charity can also advocate for parents and pupils who haven’t been able to attend school.
Torfaen resident Craig Hall attended the borough council’s education scrutiny committee, at Pontypool Civic Centre, and used a public question to ask what provision is in place for children who are out of school for an extended period of time.
Andy Rothwell, Torfaen council’s head of learning and achievement, said if children miss school “the key starting point is to make contact with the school and from there the school can think about needs and act as broker for support from, for example, the local authority. It might be the additional learning needs /inclusion team or the education welfare service.”
Jason O’Brien, the council’s director for children and families, said as well as support from the council SNAP Cymru offers advice and assistance to families.
He said it can advocate for parents and resolve issues around support and with parental permission Mr O’Brien said the council can make referrals to the charity.
Mr Rothwell had also outlined how the council supports children who aren’t attending school through its pupil referral unit which can provide online tutorting to pupils who are in hospital.
He also said it supports pupils who’ve been diagnosed with anxiety through online support while other pupils can he eased back into attending school with “modified days”.
Modified days are designed by schools and can see pupils attending for a few hours a day with the aim or “reintegrating” them after a period of absence.
The council also has a “process in place” when parents chose to home educate their children, which Mr Rothwell said is a decision for parents.