How can I help my daughter believe in herself?

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Emotionally Based School Refusal - Somerset Council Guide

Emotionally Based School Refusal (EBSR) is a term ascribed to the group of young people who do not attend school for reasons of fear, anxiety and misery (West Sussex EPS, 2004).

North Somerset Council has produced a pack which includes a list of risk factors that may indicate a child is developing EBSR.  This list is based on research and practitioners’ experience.  There can be no definitive list that will give a measurable outcome as EBSR is so complex.  However, this is a list that can be used as an indicator.  We suggest it could be used at times of transition (eg Years 6 to 7, 9 to 10) when a child is having unexplained or regular time off school or when a child is causing concern within school.  It should be used as an aid to identify specific areas of concern that may lead to a child being increasingly absent from school.  This list can also be used for sharing information within and between schools and other agencies where appropriate consent has been gained.

Also included in this pack are some leaflets that summarise this information.

It can be downloaded here: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/849E02A0-70B7-4704-8191-AA48E85E71C5/0/Everychildmatters_Emotionallybasedschoolrefusalguidance.pdf

BBC documentary

The BBC is looking into making a documentary about young people who are experiencing school phobia/school refusal.

They are interested in how we could develop this and would really like to speak to - confidentially at first - any parents with children from the ages of 16 and up who are going through this. 

If this sounds like you and you have something to say about how you feel it's affected you and your family, the support you've received, and what it's like then please do get in touch for a confidential chat. 

Please feel free to email Datshi datshiane.navanayagam@bbc.co.uk if you would like to get in touch. 

School refusal Vs Truancy

School refusal differs from truancy in that children with school refusal feel anxiety or fear towards school, whereas truant children generally have no feelings of fear towards school, often feeling angry or bored with it instead. The Children's Hospital Boston has this chart to define the differences between truancy and school refusal

Do we agree?

Website design

I have been told that the forum can be difficult to read when you are crying. Now, I know that many of us do have tears in our eyes reading some of the messages that concerned parents write.

So, it seems that it needs to change.

The colour scheme was chosen, in part, because I felt that it was neutral and comforting.

I would welcome advice on an appropriate colour scheme from someone better qualified that I. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Sarah's checklist

Sarah, one of our Forum members, has compiled a useful list of things that should help parents support their children. I have nicked it - and it is below:

• Always keep a diary of everything no matter how small; you may need to refer to it at a later date.
• Contact your local Parent Partnership for help.
• Find out if your school has a Parent Support Worker - they are very good, but not all schools have one.
• See your GP
• Contact CAMHS - this is something schools expect parents to do and ask about CBT ( our life saver )
• Read a great book called "Can't go won't go" by Mike Fortune Woods and that helped me to come to terms with it all and gave me a better understanding of my son's condition.

Does anyone have anything that they would like to add to the list?

I add that I think it important to make notes at every meeting - and put them into that diary.

Simon

Jenn Ashworth: Why I refused to go to school

Jenn Ashworth is an author with two books under belt. But she refused to attend school from aged 11. She tells her story in the Guardian. She does not provide any answers, but still manages to bring hope.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/13/jenn-ashworth-refusing-to-go-to-school?cat=education&type=article

(Thank you Sophy)