ITV screen school phobia item

Amanda Egan revealed how sitting in her car outside her son Ben's school all day, every day, for three years, ensured he stayed in school.

Like many parents, Amanda was no stranger to the stresses of the morning school run.

However when her son Ben, now 17, began his first day in a new secondary school her world was turned upside down when he became terrified at the thought of going. Ben had developed crippling school refusal, an irrational fear of school or school situations.

To help her son beat his condition, Amanda sat outside the school grounds for three years. She joins us on the sofa with Ben and psychologist Laverne Antrobus to discuss school phobia.

The recording can be seen here: http://www.itv.com/thismorning/life/school-phobia/  - possibly UK only

New laws on attendance in Victoria, Australia

Linda has published news of new laws in her neck of the woods in an article in the Forum.

If a child is absent for more than 5 days per year without a reasonable excuse, then the school will be able to fine the parents $70. Reasons for absence that can be accepted include illness, disability and School Refusal. This acceptance of School Refusal is, I think a breakthrough. However, as Linda points out, it is the difficulty we have in explaining School Refusal to the school, especially in the early days, that could easily leave parents open to that fine.

Linda highlights other concerns that we should all consider.

http://www.schoolrefuser.org.uk/forum.html#bn-forum-1-1-1014515854/6140/907995/show   for more.