I met up with a friend last night. She's been having issues with her son refusing to go to school for years and she confided that she is being taken to court and is absolutely terrified that she's going to prison.
The issues started when he started secondary school and over the years she has tried pretty much everything she can think of to get him in school. She has always engaged with and worked really hard with the school and EWO and has done everything they've ever asked her to and more as well. I don't want to give too much detail, but they've changed schools, been through CAMHS, lots of local agencies offering support, she drives him in (when she can get him to leave the house) and hands him over to a member of staff, but her son just walks straight back out again. She really has tried.
She's on her own, and her son is now a big strapping 15 year old (much bigger and stronger than her), who can be quite aggressive and just refuses point blank to go to school.
I've worked with young people with issues around school refusal in the past and I know "just force them" really isn't an option here.
How do you force someone who is physically bigger and stronger than you to do something? You can't.
She's absolutely terrified she's going to end up in prison