Hi sisterhood (and the amazing dads), I’m at a bit of a loss.
My daughter is in year 8, she has ADHD and ODD with auditory processing and learning difficulties and towards the end of last year her anxiety really took off. She is currently medicated and sees a psychologist fortnightly. Over the holidays we did a lot of confidence building and self regulation practices, we also implemented positive reinforcement for handling “stressful situations” well/appropriately. All was going well over the holidays. School started and in the first week I was called everyday by the school and on two occasions, they requested I collect her because she “wasn’t coping”. I receive daily phone calls sometimes from multiple teachers regarding miss’s refusal to attend class or her presenting to the office a complete mess wanting to come home.
I don’t know what to do when it comes to school. She will happily attend limited classes (art/technology/textiles) but others she will only last 10 minutes and walk out or not attend at all (She never leaves school grounds just doesn’t attend her class).
Any other parents in the same boat and able to offer advice on how to navigate this with the school? What worked for your child? How did you go about implementing it at school? I’m open to anything! I understand how hard this is for her and I don’t want it to be any harder than it has to be. I don’t want her to get to the point where she sees everyone else giving up that she feels there is no point trying anymore. The school have been good so far but I feel like they have given up and take the easier road of just sending her home.
Thanks from a desperate mum x
Anxiety and School
Anxiety and School
Posted in:
Kids
5 Replies
Is she linked in with the inclusion support team at school (may be known as special education or something else)? My son has a physical disability as well as anxiety. When he is feeling overwhelmed he is able to go to the inclusion support building to have a break. Last year, and again this year in grade 10, he has been able to choose to drop one of his electives to do tutorials instead. This means that twice a week he goes to the inclusion support building where a teacher will work with him on mindfulness activities or assessment tasks for his other classes. I would assume with her diagnosis she would be able to get additional support from the school. Contact the inclusion support team to make an appointment to discuss what’s supports can be put in place to help.
I know of a few kids that only attend select classes. They are allowed to go to the library during other times. This was all sorted through the school counsellor.
Does your child have an IEP?
They shouldn’t send her home they should support and encourage her to be there. They should be doing all it takes to help her along with you.
Distance education works wonders for these kids! Look into it.
School refusal is so hard!
My 14 year old daughter really struggled going back after lockdowns. Her school’s wellbeing team had helped immensely but it just wasn’t enough to get her there each day and then to also stay.
She’s been diagnosed with social anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder and is on medication to help.
We were asked in 2nd term last year if we’d consider doing school virtually with Virtual school Victoria. We’ve managed to keep her in school for 2 subjects and the rest is done online. She’s no longer falling behind and it’s significantly helped her anxiety knowing she’s still in school, it’s just done differently. We’re now on our second semester with them and I love it all, the teachers reach out to make sure work is understood, they have all subjects and can be done in mainstream school with a subject/s and the rest virtual or complete enrolment virtually.
I’m not sure if it’s offered in all states but it’s something I wish I had of known earlier as I would have started her a year earlier.