School refusal

[Bagsalot]

I'm pretty scared about Thursday, dd is going into year 8, so 2nd year at secondary school, she just keeps saying she won't go and I can't make her. She won't talk to me just shuts down completely. How can I get round this and what will happen if she wont go. Its all so awful she seems so unhappy i can't get to the bottom of it. I don't even know where to begin I'm not equipped to deal with it. Any advice gratefully received.

Sorry you are having this difficult time. My child is about to start Y8 in a new school having only managed half a term of Y7.

If you google ‘Not fine in school’ you will find lots of support and useful information.

Thank you i will do that

Is this due to coronavirus or other issues?

I dont think its coronavirus, she has always struggled with changes when at junior school and I think because this was a new school last September she just hasn't settled. It was going ok till they finished in March now she says she hated it and was just lying about the things she enjoyed. Its hard to get to the underlying issue if there is one, I think there must be, because she just won't talk to me. She's also refused all of the work sent home sone March, and she's just done a tiny bit of BBC bitesize as any learning.

If your child doesn’t want to go I wouldn’t force her. Speak to the school and see if they can help get to the bottom of why. It’s not unusual for children of that age to be bullied or develop anxieties.

Has she been in? DD has had difficulties after covid and lockdown & is withdrawn & unhappy.
She has been in except for a few days and is I would say better on days when she has been in.
Lockdown has been tough for some children.