Tusla Education Support Service (TESS)

The Education Welfare Service is now housed under Tusla, Child & Family Agency. Under the Education Welfare Act 2000, Education Welfare Officers work with young people and their families who are experiencing difficulty with school attendance. The main priority of the work is around the welfare of children and young people and on ensuring that concerns and problems around attendance before attendance becomes a crisis issue.

Under Section 14 (1) of the Education Welfare Act 2000, Tusla through its Education Welfare Services, maintains a register of children being educated in places other than recognised schools. A parent wishing to have their child educated at home or in a non-recognised setting must apply for registration and comply with the assessment process which determines whether or not the child is receiving a certain minimum education.

Contacts;

Wexford : 053 9176029

Enniscorthy:  053 9184475

Gorey : 0402 33234

New Ross : 051 364363

EWS Regional Office : 021 2428611

Target Age Group 6 years to 16 years which is compulsory school going age.

Eligibility Criteria Priority given to;

• Children who are out of school with no school place.
• Children where there are concerns regarding school attendance.
• Children where there are a combination of educational welfare and child protection issues.
• Children in care of Tusla or where court proceedings are taking place.
• Children who are expelled from school or suspended long term.
• Children who have not transferred from Primary to Secondary School.
• Children who are refused enrolment in school.

Referrals Working under a Referral Based System since January 2015.