For some young people, getting to school is far more than a difficult morning. The prospect of attending can cause intense distress before, during or after the school day. Parents may find themselves trying to protect their child, keep their education going and explain what is happening to professionals-all at once.
Research by Mullally and Connolly explored the experiences of 947 UK parents whose children were experiencing school distress. Many parents described being disbelieved or blamed for their child's attendance difficulties. The researchers also found effects on parents' mental health, work, finances and wider family life. Around half reported developing a new mental health difficulty since their child's difficulties began.
These findings point to a crucial first step: listen to families and look for the needs behind the difficulty.
A different way to engage with education
A young person who struggles to enter a school building may still want to learn. Anxiety, sensory demands and unmet needs can make a conventional school environment difficult to manage. Focusing only on attendance can overlook both the distress a young person is experiencing and the ways they might be able to engage.
Chiron OEP provides specialist online education for young people aged 11-16, including learners with SEND. Learning from home can reduce some of the demands associated with travelling to and being in a school building. For some young people, that may create an opportunity to reconnect with education and build confidence in learning.
Online education will not be the right answer for every learner. What matters is understanding the individual: what makes education difficult, what helps them engage and what meaningful progress could look like for them.
Working with families
Parents often know when their child becomes overwhelmed and what helps them feel able to learn. Their observations should be taken seriously, especially when they have spent months or years trying to explain their child's difficulties. Mullally and Connolly's findings show the harm that can arise when families feel blamed rather than supported.
The research does not assess Chiron or establish that online education resolves school distress. It does reinforce an important principle for our work: a constructive educational response begins with understanding the young person and working alongside their family.
If you are exploring education options for a young person experiencing school distress, contact Chiron OEP to discuss their needs and whether our provision could be a suitable fit.
REFERENCE
Mullally, S. L. and Connolly, S. E. (2024). 'I felt shamed and blamed': An exploration of the parental lived experience of School Distress. medRxiv preprint, version posted 16 September 2024. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.16.23286034.