Being taken to court Child not going to school

Spendless

Hi

My own daughter became a school refuser last year (also known as school anxiety or school phobia). To me it came out of the blue and eventually we learnt it was due to widespread bullying.

There is usually an underlying reason, such as undiagnosed additional needs or bullying.

Unfortantely since schools became obsessed with data and attendance, there isn't always a lot of support with dealing with this.

Unless the school has been marking the absences with an I (for illness) or otherwise authrosing it, it will have gone down in the register an unauthroised and this is what is likely to have triggered a court appearance. Even trying to get authorisation for illness can be tricky, some schools ask for a medical note saying 'child not fit for school'. Some GPs refuse to write this, some who have done, the schools have then said it has to come from someone higher than a GP. There is no code in the register to distinguish between a child unable to attend school due to phobia/anxiety and one deciding to spend the day shopping instead, if the schools refuse to authorise. I'm aware that this is something currently being looked at in order to be challenged at court.

Are you/your friend on facebook? If you are PM me and I'll put you in touch with a support group for parents of children refusing school. They will be able to offer support and advice.

Has your friend been in touch with Sendiass?

https://www.kids.org.uk/sendiass

PlotOne

maman wrote: »

AFAIK the OP is posting on behalf of the mother so it's she who has to appear. It is confusing though as original post was written almost in first person and few questions have been answered.

I'm not sure that can be a correct interpretation, can it?
e.g post#3

sebastianj wrote: »

Thanks, I have done everything possible Social Services have been involved, they haven't been able to convince her either. She just does not care anymore. I have her stress and now court... I don't know what more can I do?

:huh:

maman

I think in the earlier posts OP was writing, confusingly, in the first person. In Post #10, they appear to say that they're just trying to help [someone else].

While posters have tried to offer suggestions it's difficult with confusing information.

PlotOne

maman wrote: »

I think in the earlier posts OP was writing, confusingly, in the first person. In Post #10, they appear to say that they're just trying to help [someone else].

While posters have tried to offer suggestions it's difficult with confusing information.

I had considered that post#3 was written in the first person i.e as the mother but I still don't think it makes any sense, sorry.

Thanks, I have done everything possible Social Services have been involved, they haven't been able to convince her either.

This may relate to the mother.

She just does not care anymore.

and therefore that would relate to the daughter, but...

I have her stress and now court... I don't know what more can I do?

this would mean the mother is suffering the stress of the daughter, but the daughter doesn't seem to be stressed by this at all, at least according to the mother.
i.e. "She just does not care anymore"

Or perhaps you could explain further so that we may offer better assistance to the OP, mother and child accordingly.

onwards&upwards

sebastianj wrote: »

74jax thanks, no reason from the child was offered otherwise we will have taken steps to resolve. Perhaps she is just lazy.
Mother is facing consequences and she doesn't care. It is the mother's options need exploring.
Thanks

She’s 12, anything she is is due to the adults who are raising her, and certainly isn’t set in stone yet,

onwards&upwards

Are you the child’s absent father by any chance?

TheTalkingDead

onwards&upwards wrote: »

Are you the child’s absent father by any chance?

ask yourself this question:
If he was the absent father, how would he be there to help if he is absent?

onwards&upwards

TheTalkingDead wrote: »

ask yourself this question:
If he was the absent father, how would he know to help if he is absent?

Because he’s also being threatened with court/fines maybe?

Money_maker

Perhaps the child is subconsciously blaming the mum for her father leaving? Surely not caring about the consequences is a way of punishing her.

Marisco

sebastianj wrote: »

Dear all.
A 12 year old child refuses to go to school, when I insist she becomes violent. I now have to appear infront of a panel and may be taken to court. I have recently got a part time job and am worried I may loose my job.

I have no idea how to handle this, who to speak to or what do. Any one out there who can help as an urgent matter. Please.
A very desperate lady.

Prior to this incident, did she go to school alright before it? If so, what has happened in her life just before this incident? Did her parents split up just before her refusal? Your posts are pretty confusing with no real information in them, have her friends been asked if she is getting bullied in school?