Top 7 Questions about School Refusal
1. WHAT IS SCHOOL REFUSAL?
School Refusal is a broad clinical term (not a diagnosis or illness) that covers a set of behaviours, thoughts and circumstances which cause students to experience school attendance difficulties or non-attendance. Treatment for School Refusal behaviour therefore seeks to minimise the difficulties faced by a student when thinking about school, while also addressing any environmental, family and mental health issues which may impede a student from remaining at school.
2. MY CHILD DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, IS THIS 'SCHOOL REFUSAL?'
School is not always a fun place for children, this is normal. It’s okay to expect a degree of resistance to school attendance on some days. However, it is not okay where the resistance to school is violent, abusive, frequent or not associated with a reasonable or medical justification. It’s important to be proactive when School Refusing behaviour becomes unacceptable, unmanageable or difficult to deescalate.
3. UNEXPLAINED ABSENCES ARE NEVER ACCEPTABLE
If your child is missing school without special, exceptional or medical circumstances, this is a strong indication that School Refusal may be the issue. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the signs that your child may be School Refusing. It also a good idea to read through the school’s attendance policies. Missing school impacts children academically, socially and developmentally.
4. WHEN IS SCHOOL REFUSAL BEHAVIOUR NOT AN ISSUE?
If your child is anxious prior to a stressful day at school (perhaps there’s a difficult class or homework is due) you may notice your child exhibiting School Refusal behaviours. It's important to recognise that some resistance to to school in these situations, is both expected and normal. Provided these behaviours and symptoms are isolated, proportional and manageable, your child is unlikely to be experiencing a problematic level of School Refusal.
For these occasional difficult days, parent's are often able to help their children by addressing their child’s concerns but staying firm and ensuring their child does not find a way out of attending school. However, where these behaviours persist, become unmanageable or you feel like getting your child to school is like ‘walking on eggshells’, you should consider talking to a professional.
For these occasional difficult days, parent's are often able to help their children by addressing their child’s concerns but staying firm and ensuring their child does not find a way out of attending school. However, where these behaviours persist, become unmanageable or you feel like getting your child to school is like ‘walking on eggshells’, you should consider talking to a professional.
5. IS NON-ATTENDANCE THE SAME AS 'SCHOOL REFUSAL'?
No, while School Refusal is often associated with non-attendance one may occur without the other.
The prime difference is that school attendance is simply a matter of record; the fact that child has either attended or not attended on a specific day. Sometimes this is further broken down into explained or unexplained absence. School Refusal however, is focused on the behaviour, circumstances and thoughts which have caused a resistance to school, which may then lead to a non-attendance. (absent days, truancy, wagging etc.) Furthermore, School Refusal for each student is complex, and may be made up from a combination of factors from social, environmental to mental health issues, which may not be present with mere non-attendance.
The Takeaway: School Refusal is more than non-attendance. It is a set of behaviours or thoughts leading to a resistance school attendance, which may not (though usually will) result in time spent away from school.
The prime difference is that school attendance is simply a matter of record; the fact that child has either attended or not attended on a specific day. Sometimes this is further broken down into explained or unexplained absence. School Refusal however, is focused on the behaviour, circumstances and thoughts which have caused a resistance to school, which may then lead to a non-attendance. (absent days, truancy, wagging etc.) Furthermore, School Refusal for each student is complex, and may be made up from a combination of factors from social, environmental to mental health issues, which may not be present with mere non-attendance.
The Takeaway: School Refusal is more than non-attendance. It is a set of behaviours or thoughts leading to a resistance school attendance, which may not (though usually will) result in time spent away from school.
6. HOW IS SCHOOL REFUSAL TREATED?
School Refusal treatment is designed to discover and treat the root causes and behaviours which make attending school a difficult experience for your child. For some children, treatment may be as simple as learning new strategies to reduce late nights, excessive worrying or helping to find solutions to any difficulties faced on school mornings. More difficult School Refusal cases often require working through strategies to alleviate extreme emotional distress, anxiety or depressive illness that is preventing the student from attending or wanting to attend school.
7. THE SIGNS: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR AND WHEN?
School Refusal can be detected by looking at both overt and subtle behaviours, particularly in the night prior to school (such as a Sunday night) or the morning of a school day. Overt Signs include; Patterns of emotional distress such as screaming, tantrums or threats (these may be verbal or physical). Subtle Signs include: Stubborn or oppositional behaviour, sobbing or crying, physically resisting being taken to school, complaints of feeling 'unwell' and appearing anxious, fatigued or moody.
SEEKING HELP
It's not easy getting kids to school every day. When faced with difficulties getting children to attend school, many parents may hesitate to seek outside help. It is important to recognise that there is help for School Refusal, and that it is a very treatable and studied issue. There are several great avenues to seek help, including your trusted family Doctor, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist.
Try our free online assessment toolTry our free screening tool for Parents or Teachers, specifically designed to evaluate School Refusal symptoms in children.
At no cost to you, our highly experienced clinicians will review your submission and give you personalised feedback.
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