Teen with mental health issues - how to complete her education?

[Ragnbonemam]

My 17 year old has been suffering from anxiety and low mood for three years following bullying at school and the breakdown of her relationship with her Father (following a difficult marital separation). During this time she has struggled to attend school every day as sometimes she can't face leaving the house. She is receiving support from CAMHS, but hasn't been on the radar of the school SENCO. When not at school, she had been reasonably engaged, and has been completing some of her school work at home, but she has missed a lot of formal teaching.

Following a monitoring period for attendance, she was abruptly told to leave the school, without any discussion or reflection on her circumstances. We were told to make our own arrangements to complete her A levels. This was devastating for her.

This was done without the school issuing any paperwork and without a right of appeal. We received some basic advice from a Child Law Centre and complained to the Head. The School has now backed down to the extent that she will now be allowed to return to sit just one A level if she enters Y13 in the autumn, or she can apply to re-enter Y12 (but with no guarantees of admission).

This has been handled pretty aggressively; consequently she is reluctant to return to this school. But she has found the last few years such an ordeal, that she is desperate to complete her A levels, and get onto the next stage of her life (she had been buoyed up by looking around Unis). No other local institution offers her current combination of A levels and it's very late in the year to be applying for an autumn place.

I really don't know how to help her find a path to continue her education. I am worried she will now become even more isolated and despondent. She is currently struggling with intrusive suicidal feelings (CAMHS are aware of this and she is on the waiting list for a more intensive intervention). Can anyone suggest a way forward or any organisations she might be able talk to for advice on her educational options? TIA

Hi Rag, I'm surprised for you that there doesn't appear to have been a response to your post.

I had something very similar with my DD, also now 17, but at least her school was sympathetic to what they recognised as mental health issues - at least up to Y12, they did: she has now been diagnosed as autistic, which was organised by CAMHS.

You really need support and ought seriously to consider going for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) on the grounds of the mental health alone. The school ought (recommended by law) to refer her for testing for ASD, as that's at the root of many school attendance issues, though that may not be your DDs problem. If it is though, the National Autism Society has a lot of resources that might help. Find a website called notfineinschool.com (or co.uk, I've forgotten) if you need to acquaint them with their duties here. If nothing else, her school (as ours should have and never did, for all they were more kindly than yours appears to be) should be in contact with the local authority to request what is known as the "local offer" of 5 hours home tuition each week. To be fair, I have to warn you that we're still trying to get that. CAMHS ought also to be signposting you to anything in your area that can help. Do you have enough money to fund extra psychotherapy? Our experience of CAMHS has been a bit mixed, and we ended up having to go private, but she really relates well to this therapist. I hope you get more help soon.

Have you thought about the possibility of online study

My dd did GCSEs online, funded by the local authority due to her MH needs

She had the option of A levels the same way but is going to attempt college first

helloisitmeyourelookingfor, how long was she funded to study on line, can I ask? I've go a dd Yr 7 who is under camhs, seeing a psych, applied for a EHCP, on medication but hasn't been to school since the winter. It's breaking my heart.

Online study could be the way fwd, but I can't afford it

We had 2 years funded for years 10 and 11 but prior to that we had a year of home tuition and 2 failed attempts at transition to medical and SEMH units based on mental health needs -she was in mainstream until the Easter of year 8 when she had a breakdown

She was only getting 4 hours a week of lessons so we argued that she had a legal entitlement to full time education and a broad and balanced curriculum

Went to tribunal but online was then named in her EHCP -dual registered with a mainstream school as the LA had safeguarding concerns if no one could physically see her
The mainstream school also acted as her exam centre to do her GCSEs which she sat in the library

We had 2 years funded for years 10 and 11 but prior to that we had a year of home tuition and 2 failed attempts at transition to medical and SEMH units based on mental health needs -she was in mainstream until the Easter of year 8 when she had a breakdown

She was only getting 4 hours a week of lessons so we argued that she had a legal entitlement to full time education and a broad and balanced curriculum

Went to tribunal but online was then named in her EHCP -dual registered with a mainstream school as the LA had safeguarding concerns if no one could physically see her
The mainstream school also acted as her exam centre to do her GCSEs which she sat in the library

We had 2 years funded for years 10 and 11 but prior to that we had a year of home tuition and 2 failed attempts at transition to medical and SEMH units based on mental health needs -she was in mainstream until the Easter of year 8 when she had a breakdown

She was only getting 4 hours a week of lessons so we argued that she had a legal entitlement to full time education and a broad and balanced curriculum

Went to tribunal but online was then named in her EHCP -dual registered with a mainstream school as the LA had safeguarding concerns if no one could physically see her
The mainstream school also acted as her exam centre to do her GCSEs which she sat in the library