Remember that your child is probably struggling with feeling anxious. Talk about what’s worrying them, making sure you listen to what they say. Try to help your child lessen their anxious feelings rather than fight against them.

• Try to spot their triggers. See if you can think of strategies that can support your child when they face things that make them resistant to school.
• Avoid arguing to get them into school and look at the core issue instead. This shows you are on their side, working towards the same goal.
• Try worry management techniques. For example, use ‘‘worry time’  or the worry tree activity to help them gain control over their worries.
• Use positive praise and reward with your child and make sure you notice any efforts they’re making.
• Help your child practise breathing exercises and calming techniques. This can help them build the confidence they need to return to school.
• Be consistent with your approach. Make sure that you give your strategies time to work.

• Ensure that the morning routine stays the same, even if your child isn’t going to school. Get them to wake up at the same time and eat breakfast. Where possible, make the mornings feel normal.
• Avoid making staying home feel like a treat. With the help of your child’s school, set home-learning tasks. Put limits on gaming and TV time, and avoid giving them ‘fun’ food and treats. This can encourage your child to stay home more often.
• Create a plan with your child to help them overcome their worries. At first, the goal might be to complete the morning routine. Next, it might be travelling to school, but not going in. Then, try a morning or afternoon in school. Talk to your child about any feelings or concerns they have during the process.

The ways to respond to school refusal are very similar for children with additional or special educational needs. Structure is key, as is taking things slowly.

You can also use a visual timetable. This will help your child to understand the journey they’re on to returning to school.

Don’t be afraid to break down the challenge into smaller parts. Instead of going from just doing the morning routine to travelling to school without going in, add in some stages. For example, if you child usually catches the bus to school, you could try the following:

• Go to the bus stop but don’t get on the bus.
• Get on the bus with a trusted adult or friend for one or two stops.
• Get on the bus and travel all the way to school with a trusted adult or friend.
• Get on the bus and travel to school while on the phone to a trusted adult or friend.
• Get on the bus and travel to school while listening to music.The idea is to increase your child’s confidence and decrease how much support they have at each stage. After some time, they should feel comfortable with that part of the process. Then you can look at working towards the next goal.
• Talk to the school. The staff who support your child at school may have some more ideas. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) may be able to give you specific advice.

• Your child may want to talk to someone about their feelings outside of the home. Kooth, Childline and The Mix have a range of online, phone and text support for children and young people.
• Work with the school. Can they do reduced timetables or provide support? They might be able to suggest staggered start times or home visits to help your child build up a trust relationship.
• Make sure your child knows who is supporting them and where to go if they need help. You can also talk to your GP or school nurse if appropriate.