Understanding School Anxiety and Supporting Meaningful Recovery

When a child is struggling to attend school, the instinct is often to focus on getting them back through the door as quickly as possible. But attendance without safety is not progress. In fact, the harder we push, the more stuck things can become.

This practical on-demand CPD session explores what is really driving school attendance difficulties and what children need from the adults around them when school feels impossible.

Suitable for parents, carers, teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, pastoral staff and school leaders, this session brings together professional expertise, practical strategies and lived experience to help adults move beyond attendance targets and focus on genuine recovery.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “can’t” versus “won’t” changes everything
• Understanding the shame cycle for children, families and professionals
• What meaningful recovery looks like beyond attendance figures
• Recognising the early signs of progress that are often missed
• What children need from the adults around them
• Building honest, productive partnerships between home and school
• Practical approaches that support long-term change