My teenager hates school and I don't know what to do.

[clowningaround6]

She is in year 8 (13 years old) and since going back to school in September she has hates it. She cried every morning and even in the evening thinking about school the following day. I've left for work before and she has come home and let herself in and not gone to school. I've met with school, who have said there is no bullying, no issue with the work and dd has confirmed.

I just don't know what to do I can't go on like this and moving school isn't really an option because there are no more in the area and dd has said moving school will make it worse.

I think it might be girls in her year group are quite nasty and "rough" and dd is quiet. I just don't know what to do.

@clowningaround6

This is really promising. I’ve had success at school with girls who were completely refusing to come in; one or two small adjustments to their day made all the difference. One girl was scared of ‘open’ stairs so we put all of her lessons on the ground floor. Looking at seating plans might also help.

That sounds really good@clowningaround6

Another thing that helped my DD who was getting overwhelmed in class at times, was the HoY gave her a pack of fluorescent pink Post-It notes to keep with her. When she was struggling in class, she just needed to put these on her desk and the teachers would know not to come to her to answer a question or that she needed a little space.

Of course, classrooms can be busy places and sometimes the teacher didn't spot the post its, but this seemed ok with DD, I think it was more that she felt empowered with something else to try and manage school.

I did wonder at first if suddenly the others would notice this system and tease her or pick up on it, but it never happened. Even though DD is the last person that would consciously choose pink, sadly black post-its were not available!