It is with great pleasure that we welcome leading education services company WP Associates (WPA) to our family.
WPA is an independent provider of specialist services promoting safeguarding and education outcomes through improving overall pupil attendance, a crucial part of a school’s Ofsted judgement, to academies and local authority schools across South East England.
It has over 35 Education Welfare Officers (EWOs), who attend schools on a regular basis, evaluate school attendance procedures, meet with parents, students and staff and liaise with external agencies (health, youth justice etc) as necessary. EWOs may also undertake early intervention support with pupils and families prior to any potential social care involvement.
WPA, which has its HQ in Croydon, works with around 150 largely primary and secondary mainstream schools in London and the South East and is led by Managing Director Sharon Wright and Operations Director, Gordana Tahirovic.
In addition to WPA’s focus on improving pupil attendance, we will also be offering our new Wellbeing First services through the organisation with some pilots already started.
The WPA team have received initial training and will offer a menu of clinical services under our Wellbeing Rainbow to existing school partners.
Richard Cooke, Group Commercial Director of Outcomes First Group, said: “WPA is a fantastic strategic fit for OFG and opens up lots of exciting new opportunities for the Group.
“Not only does it provide access to new markets, it’s a great chance to offer our own Wellbeing First services externally and, of course, means we can work with vulnerable children outside of our own settings and completely aligns to our vision.”