Introduction
After several years out of school, a Year 11 pupil was referred to the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) for specialist school attendance support. What began as a welfare concern became a journey of reconnection — helping the young person rediscover confidence, sit an exam, and take their next step into college.
The challenge
The pupil had not attended school since 2021. Their carer described a pattern of staying up all night gaming and sleeping during the day, which affected their wellbeing and led to weight loss. The pupil had no in-person friendships, only online connections, and their carer was increasingly worried about their future as they approached the end of Year 11.
The pupil was already known to CAMHS, but engagement with education had completely stopped. The school needed specialist attendance intervention to understand and address the barriers preventing re-engagement.
Our approach
Alongside the welfare visits, the EWO provided targeted school attendance support, working closely with the pupil and their carer to explore realistic next steps.
- Contact was made with organisations including the London Learning Consortium and The Prince’s Trust to identify suitable post-16 options.
- The EWO also researched local college open days and liaised with CAMHS to arrange a mentor who could accompany the pupil to visits and interventions.
- A discussion with the school SENCo led to an EHCP referral, and the EWO supported the pupil to attend school when the building was quiet, ensuring they felt safe and supported to complete the assessment process.
By March, the EHCP referral had been completed, and in April, the family attended an open day at a local college. The EWO, drawing on previous further education experience, recommended a foundation course designed for learners who had been out of education — a supportive first step back into learning. This joined-up school attendance support helped the family feel guided and informed throughout the process.
The outcome
To help the pupil regain confidence, the EWO introduced Functional Skills exams, providing practice papers and supporting them through preparation. The pupil sat their exam at school — a significant achievement in itself — and proudly passed Entry Level Maths.
This success helped them take the next step: enrolling on their college course with ongoing support from an Educational Psychologist.
Reflections
This case demonstrates the impact of personalised school attendance support in transforming outcomes for young people who have been disengaged from education. Through empathy, persistence, and collaboration between professionals, the EWO helped this pupil overcome barriers to attendance and take confident steps toward independence.
Please note: The photograph shown is for illustrative purposes only and does not feature the pupil described in this case study.
