Empowered Parents Inspiring Change in Schools - EPIC

Klarity Belle is the mother of two teenage girls. Her eldest experienced bullying in primary school and has long since recovered from these challenges. She is now a compassionate, caring yet assertive and confident young woman. Klarity's  youngest had no significant problems in primary but in the first two years in secondary she became the target of a bullying campaign by a very manipulative and callous girl. Klarity has ten years experience in most matters bullying and anti-bullying and has begun to Blog about the family's journey through those years.

http://epicinschools.blogspot.co.uk/

If you can help keep this website alive, please make a donation.

ipad users

There is a technical problem with mobile devices, particularly Apple ipads, attempting to access the forum.
I have added a new link on the meu as a workaround which views the forum outside the website.
Or you can click here: http://pub12.bravenet.com/forum/1014515854/

Keeping the website going is a rising expense.  I would be grateful if those who feel able would make a donation of whatever they feel is appropriate.
http://www.schoolrefuser.org.uk/fundraise.html

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.

Why force teenagers to get out of bed early?

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 14- to 18-year-old pupils in a Tonbridge, Kent college start lessons at 11.30am – because research suggests that that teenagers' brains work better if they get up later.

There are few more powerful urges than the teenager's need to stay under the duvet when the morning school bell goes. Jon Barker, headteacher of Hugh Christie Technology College in Tonbridge, Kent accepts this and goes with the flow.

"Their punctuality and attendance has improved, their questioning and answering is better because they are more alert and the pace of lessons is often much quicker," Barker says.

Would this help a school refuser?  Read more in this 2009 article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/mar/20/lie-in-pupils

Home education Journal - free!

The Home education Journal Issues 1, 2, 3, & 4 that are contained in Volume 1 are free to Amazon Prime Kindle users.

I suspect that this is a limited time offer, so move fast and save!

Remember, you don't need a Kindle to read Kindle books, you can access them using a wide range of devices.

More publications can be found in our Book Shop.

Surrey School Refusal Support Group Being set up

A new support group is being set up in Surrey for families who have a child who refuses to attend school.

The school refusal is nearly always anxiety based but the triggers vary from child to child. Many but not all of those affected have SEN and disabilities. The group is based in the Reigate/Redhill area but is open to anyone in Surrey or surrounding areas.

The group's main focus will be to offer peer support in what is often an isolating experience but we will also provide information on the help that should be available and on interventions which may be effective.

They will have regular monthly meetings and occasional guest speakers.

The first meeting is planned to take place on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at 7.30pm. The venue is Reigate Baptist Church Hall, Sycamore Drive, Reigate. Click here to download a pdf of the flyer