Ensuring delegates are clear about the statutory expectations of Children Missing Education, as well as helping to understand and address Children Missing from Education.
This course is delivered in two bitesize parts:
Part One – Legal do’s and don’ts of Children Missing Education (CME): This part focuses on ensuring delegates have a clear understanding of the legislation and statutory guidance linked to Children Missing Education. Delegates will understand the statutory definition of a Child Missing Education and their role in managing risks and escalating concerns.
Part Two – Preventing CME by tackling Children Missing from Education: Delegates will develop a understanding of the difference between CME and Children Missing from Education by exploring these subjects in more details.
Delegates will have the opportunity to explore best practice in tackling children missing from education, ensuring these children are safeguarded are able to access an appropriate education provision.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Designated Safeguarding Leads, Attendance Leads, School Attendance / Admissions Officers.
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This masterclass will focus on:
Statutory Definition of Children Missing Education (CME)
Relevant Statutory Guidance relating to CME, including attendance, off-rolling and safeguarding.
Roles and Responsibilities of Education Providers, Local Authorities and other agencies.
Definition of Children Missing FROM Education and how these children differ to CME.
Best Practice in relation to CME and Children Missing from Education, focusing on prevention, resolution and safeguarding.
Developing Networking Opportunities with other delegates.
FACILITATOR - JOHN LEES
I graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA (Hons) Degree in History and Education Studies in 2002 and achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Aberystwyth in 2003. Despite giving teaching a go, I was more concerned about the welfare of children and young people, and so was lucky enough to gain employment with Sandwell Education Welfare Service in the West Midlands in 2004. As an EWO I gained experience within a traditional EWS before moving onto locality working with Telford and Wrekin Council in 2007. My first experience of management was as a Team Leader for Attendance and Connexions with Somerset County Council, joining in 2009. I left Somerset in 2011 to work in the big smoke, joining the London Borough of Croydon, rising to the position of Lead for Attendance and Education Safeguarding, where I stayed until 2016 until I made the decision to move back to Shropshire and work for myself. Azure Education Consultancy was born!
Azure has enabled me to gain some great experiences in consultancy and interim leadership positions, working in a large Multi-Academy Trust as an Area Safeguarding and Attendance Lead, working at a troubled Academy as a VicePrincipal and DSL, and having a direct impact in moving them away from special measures, as well as further experiences in roles at Local Authorities in the West Midlands, London and Yorkshire.
Azure has also given me the time to try other things too, and my interest in Criminal Investigation has led me to undertake a Master’s Degree in Criminal Investigation from the University of Derby, and to a 2 year posting as a Criminal Investigator for West Midlands Police’s Force CID within their hugely busy Burglary / Robbery / Serious Assault Team. I achieved some great outcomes both as an individual and as part of a team, receiving a Chief Constable’s Commendation, but it was also seeing the huge number of young people involved in violent crime, including murder investigations, which reminded me of true calling, to have an impact into the lives of children and families as early as possible, by making sure children are in school, whilst protecting them from harm and exploitation.
My passion for education and supporting others led me to joining the Association of Education Welfare Management (AEWM) back in 2009, which delivers highly professional and consistent support mechanism for Managers and strategic leads responsible for school attendance within Local Authorities, schools and multi-academy trusts. In May 2023 I was elected as s President-Elect of the AEWM, becoming President in May 2024.
FACILITATOR - ANDREA PACKER
I gained employment with Swindon Borough Council as an Education Welfare Officer, a job that gave me direct contact with children and young people and their families as well as a wide experience across schools and teams within the local authority. It was also an introduction to the world of attendance. During this time, I studied and completed a management qualification and because I wanted to develop my skills and experience in leadership I moved to work as a Team Leader for Attendance and Connexions in Somerset County Council joining in 2009. I left Somerset in 2014 and moved to London, joining the London Borough of Lewisham as Team Manager for Attendance, Inclusion and Participation.
Leadership and management have its challenges and I began to look for a role that would give me a new challenge and more contact with children and young people. Further Education was an area I had no experience of, but I secured a position as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in a further education college rising to the position of Head of Student Services. During this time I worked closely with the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit to identify and implement a trauma informed approach across the college and produce good practice guidance to be used in provisions across Walsall.
I joined Azure Education Consultancy in 2022 and took an interim role as the Lead for Attendance and Inclusion at Swindon Borough Council, initially for 3 months to coproduce and develop a new attendance strategy in line with the new department for education attendance guidance. This contract lasted for 14 months in total, and my work developed during this time to include operational work as well as strategic work.
My interest in education, particularly attendance, led me to rejoin the Association of Education Welfare Management (AEWM) in 2022 which delivers professional and support mechanisms for managers and strategic leads in local authorities. I am the South West Regional Representative and a member of the National Executive Committee.
I am very passionate about outcomes for children and young people through the variety of roles and positions I have worked in. I am particularly interested in mental health from both a personal and professional perspective. I trained as a Mental Health First Aid England instructor in 2017 and have continued to upskill and have delivered courses to a variety of audiences, local authority staff, academy trust staff, further education staff, police, and voluntary organisations.
