School Attendance
Support
A child or young person with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may face a variety of challenges that can make attending school difficult.
SPCF understand that the experiences of parents and carers vary when reaching out for support for their child or young person struggling to attend school, so we have compiled the resources below to enable them to access helpful information, find relevant assistance, and connect with the right support services to address their child's needs.
Suffolk SEND Local Offer
The Suffolk SEND Local Offer website provides a dedicated "Support to Attend School" section to assist parents and carers in navigating the various challenges their children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) might face in attending school.
This section informs on what support schools can provide. Click the links below.
Suffolk County Council
The Suffolk County Council website has a "Wellbeing in Education" section to assist parents, carers and education professionals in children and young people's mental health, including helpful resources and signposting.
This section informs on what support schools can provide. Click the links below.
Emotionally Based School Avoidance
GOV.UK
The GOV.UK website provides the statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities. They have dedicated documents that outline what education providers must follow in supporting children and young people to attend school.
Click the links below.
Support for Parents & Carers
Define Fine
Define Fine supports families facing difficulties with school attendance, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They focuses on raising awareness of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and provide resources and support for parents, carers, and children and young people struggling with school attendance due to emotional or mental health difficulties.
PACT
PACT offer non-clinical peer-led support and resources for parents and carers. Their aim is to reach all parents and carers across Suffolk and offer support to all who are caring for a child or young person with mental health issues.
They offer a range of support strategies including face to face meetups, online support, a 1:1 phone/chat service and various training sessions to help parents and carers support their children and young people.
Early Help Assessment (EHA)
An Early Help Assessment (EHA) is a form and process you and or a professional working with your family can complete when:
- Something is worrying you or someone else about your child or young person.
- Your child or young person has some unmet needs and early intervention will avoid the problem getting worse.
- Your child, young person or your family need some extra support, which can't be given by current professional involvement, family or network.
Click the button below to view the information on EHA's for families and professionals.