Message from our President:

I would like to thank you all for the faith you have placed in me to lead our association over the next year.  I am truly humbled but honoured to take the mantle from Tony who has been our excellent President over the past year.  I thank him for leading the Association through politically difficult times,  when everything seems more important than the welfare and education of our children!

When I started working in the area of school attendance in 2003, in a challenging and at that time an under performing secondary school in Northampton, we had little or no social media, no county lines, and a knife incident in school made national news.  We have now progressed to dealing with students who cannot get away from bullying due to social media, students whose anxiety levels are extremely high, some pupils are up all night playing ‘fortnight’, there are gangs, CSE and county line influences all over the country and the challenges and responsibility placed on schools is immense. 

This Association is strategically important in supporting professionals working in improving attendance, CME, EHE, and inclusion allowing children to access the education they are entitled too.   We will continue to work closely with the DfE, and other professional organisations both in this country and abroad to promote and influence good practice.   As part of our NEC work I am looking forward to meeting with the DfE on the Children not in School consultation on 7^thJune. 

Please can I encourage you all to respond to this consultation by 24^thJune. 

I recently went to see my MP, on a similar matter, regarding the government’s lack of understanding and support for Lord Soley’s Local Authority Bill.  Andrea Leadsom wrote to Damien Hinds regarding my concerns of how home education regulations work in reality in our authorities. We do have new guidelines and a further consultation which once again I would urge you all to respond too. 

Can I also ask that if you know of any colleagues who are not here today or may not be members of this Association to invite them to attend the Autumn Conference and to join our association.

I commit that with the NEC YOUR Association will continue working for you and the work you carry out in your roles to support schools and their pupils. 

Thank you once again for placing such great trust in me I hope I can return your faith by guiding the association to yet another very successful year.

Jane Ward.  21st May 2019

Members may be interested to know about the International Network for School Attendance. A new network for Academics and 'clinicians. Further information is available at    

www. insa.network

The Association for Education Welfare Management provides professional support for Managers in Education Social Work (ESW), the Education Welfare Service (EWS) and safeguarding in education. It has been doing this since its formation in 1917.

We help deliver effective and competent services, accessible to children, families and schools by maintaining a network of fellow professionals and providing a forum for members to share, support and consult. Our objectives are...

• To promote and safeguard the rights of children and young persons and to establish and foster co-operation with other organisations working in the interests of children and young persons.

• To advance the professional interests of its members.

• To promote and improve the ethos of social inclusion.

• To encourage the development and training of all staff in education welfare and social inclusion.

• To disseminate information to the membership on developments in education welfare and social inclusion.

We have links with Government and other political and professional bodies including the Department for Education, Teacher Associations and Unions and our sister organisation NASWE.

Members receive information on current issues and potential changes affecting their work and are given opportunities to comment on consultation documents. They are also offered training and supporting literature. Regional groups meet quarterly to provide a forum for debate, exchange of views and a vehicle for the provision and discussion of information.

Membership of AEWM costs £30 pa and we welcome your applications. Further information is available on the website under the JOIN button. However if you would like to try before you buy, we would like to offer you a warm invitation to attend the next regional meeting in your area to receive information and make contact with other similar professionals.