school refusal / prosecution

One of mine effectively dropped out of school at 15. She left one school at Easter in her first year of GCSE, took a term off, did a term at a college, but didn't settle, then spent 2 tems having maybe an hour a weeks private tuition in each of the subjects she was interested in. Nobody bothered us.

If the OP's reaction to stressful situations is to avoid them though its not surprising her daughter has picked up on this and decided that's how you deal with stress. Avoidance is a pretty rubbish coping technique for situations that you need to deal with like schools.

I think the OP is saying that her GP says that she shouldn't go to the meeting because of her own mental health, not that the family shouldn't go.

I don't see why this is going to be a problem since her DH is going.

Why is it too stressful for you? I thought she was the one with school refusal. Is she picking up some of her anxieties from you?

Not read all the posts but just got to the GP advising you not to go to the meeting. That is dreadful advice! By all means go to the meeting with support and if necessary stop the meeting very early on saying the school clearly has no grasp on the situation and you want another meeting when the EP/CYPS has made their assessment etc. But you should go.
As someone who works in schools I know that parents not attending meetings just gives a blank cheque where we can say we would have offered x y z but they didn't show up.
Hope that make sense, good luck op.

Your child will need to have some form of education so avoiding discussing achieving that with the school seems odd.
If my child refused school I would be working with the school to try and look at ways of making school less stressful to get them there or changing school and looking at how they can learn whilst off. I would also be pushing for a child mental health referral to get the situation sorted and my child back at school asap.
The longer the child stays off school the harder it is to get them to go back.

Sorry psychological is medical I meAnt physical medical.

Hello OP

This is a dreadful way to be treated, but unfortunately what the education system often does.
It must be hard enough for your child atm without having to worry about you being prosecuted.

Have you considered H.ed or are you in the position to do this for a while whilst you access the help your child requires.

It will keep the LEA off your back for a while and will no doubt improve your childs life as well.

It is the last one I was looking for www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269469/health_needs_guidance__-_revised_may_2013_final.pdf

Also this guidance on health needs
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269469/health_needs_guidance__-_revised_may_2013_final.pdf

Not going to the meeting won't help you need to go and ask for lea support for your dd.

Sorry this one us more comprehensive
<a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/education.gov.uk/publications/eorderingdownload/statutory-la-guide.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/education.gov.uk/publications/eorderingdownload/statutory-la-guide.pdf
"Children with long term medical or emotional problems "

Basically you need to be asking lea for help including alternative educational provision and working with you and school to support dd back into education. But you do need a diagnosis of sorts. An urgent Camhs assessment could get u that help.
My dd was out of school, for nearly two years got support from lea small group provision for "vulnerable children " then local hospital school.. Now back in full time. Paed referral and Camhs assessment ticked the boxes to get the support tho her condition was medical. Not psychological in the end.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/350737/CME_guidance__final_template___CB_.pdf

This is what you need.

If she has been off school,for more than 15 days then small group or alternative provision should be offered. But you might need a Camhs appt to get this set up. They need the paperwork.

"You need a CAMHS referral"
This is the best and ultimately only way forward for you, if your GP won't make one for what ever reason (why?) ask to see another GP in your practice preferably a senior partner, ask the receptionist if someone in the practice specialises or at the least is interested in mental health, and or adolescents or ideally both if you get no joy complain, every GP practice has a complaints procedure. I'm afraid in this day and age with the very considerable financial restrictions everyone is under it's only he who shouts who gets what he wants.
If the wait is very long could you pay for a consultation? Although having said this private adolescent psychiatrists are like hens teeth, in many areas.

Have you contacted Parent Partnership at your local council? They can provide information about the legal obligations that schools have to provide an education that meets your child's needs.

You need a Camhs referral.
Download guidance for children with medical conditions and
reports.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/surveys-and-good-practice/p/Pupils%20missing%20out%20on%20education.pdf

Look at the best practice. Ask lea who is person dealing with children with medical conditions.

Some schools are so heavy handed about this. We have been extremely lucky with ours. As soon as my DTs started refusing to go to school I got in touch with the Pastoral Care Manager. Eventually we had a CAMHS referral and a meeting with the school and we have had not trouble since. We once had a letter regarding attendance way back in Year 8 or 9 but even though this year's attendance (Y11) has dropped all the way down in to the 70% range at no time have the school made any threats. Would your GP be willing to write to the school stating that your child is suffering from stress or psychological issues (if that is actually the case) and that is the cause of the school refusal.

My DTs have missed controlled assessment and exams and our GP has been incredibly helpful.

Wishing you well in this battle.

www.youngminds.org.uk/for_parents/worried_about_your_child/school_anxiety

these people were great re dd aged 8 with same problem

good luck

Have you spoken to your GP?

EWOs do still exist - though some academy chains provide their own. When we were in similar situation, EWO was helpful and sympathetic and got the school to back off and be less about their stats.

What kind of school is it mand have you spoken to the local authority?

Who has a power to place you under caution btw? That sounds like EWO/similar exercising a statutory power