Support strategies

Fabricated illness stems from a mental health problem in which a care giver makes up or accuses an injury to a person under his or her care. Suzanne O’Connell explains this condition, identifies warning signs and gives advice on what schools should do in this situation. Summary This is a rare condition and one that is difficult for schools to address.You should be alert to carer descriptions of an illness that does not correspond to your own observations.Any case of fabricated illness should be relayed to the designated safeguarding lead in the first instance. Fabricated or reduced illness refers to…

The term ‘school refuser’ sounds defiant and deliberate. It suggests a child trying to ‘get out’ of going to school. Tania Tirraoro asks us to look at the situation in a different way. Summary There are many possible causes of school phobia, such as school-based anxiety, bullying and lack of self-esteem.Children can be left traumatised and branded as naughty rather than receiving the support they need.There are ways in which school staff can help to tackle the problem and enable the child to return to school. When a parent tells you their child becomes distressed, anxious or even self-harms at…

You might be tired of hearing about it, but Brexit will have implications for attendance too. In this article, John Viner outlines what the impact might be if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Summary It is likely that there will be a significant impact on schools in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Schools should make plans around a number of areas, including absence, late collection and closure.Travel arrangements are likely to be particularly disrupted and schools should prepare. The extension to Article 50 did not limit the potential for disruption. Over the past months, it has…