It can feel very lonely when your child is struggling with school. Parents tell me that they feel blamed and shamed, and that they are sometimes given advice that feels very wrong – but they don’t know what else to do.
I had a particular interest in this topic because I was a ‘school refuser’ myself at ages 5 and 13. I remember well what it feels like from the inside.
In my short courses on school and education, I cover the reasons that some children are distressed by school, what adults do next – and how things can go wrong. There are courses on school burnout and school trauma as well as learning outside school and finding a way forward.
Our courses take a child-centred perspective and are suitable for children with and without diagnoses.
All courses are available to watch for 12 months
Your child isn’t happy at school. They are protesting in the mornings, or having meltdowns in the afternoons. They tell you that they don’t want to go, and you feel torn between them and the school. School are telling you that the answer is to keep pushing, as you don’t want to reinforce avoidance or behaviour. It’s starting to dominate everything about your family life, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
Is your autistic child having problems at school? Naomi offers ways to think about the issues, and tools and strategies which will help you make changes for your child.
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This mini-course is for teenagers to watch themselves. When teenagers stop going to school, it can be hard to know what happens next. They’ve spent years being told that school is essential for their future, and they have no idea how to start learning without a teacher and a classroom. They feel hopeless – how can they have a future, if they don’t go to school? Featuring clips of a teenager who themselves stopped going to school in Year 9 and in a conversational and down-to-earth style, your teenager will see that they are not alone. It’s possible to learn outside school, and there are many others who have paved the way.
Things have gone wrong at school for your teenager, and now it’s like they have nothing left. They have lost their sense of what made life worth living. You don’t know how to help, and sometimes it seems like whatever you do makes things worse. Naomi will explain how burnout happens and what the process of recovery looks like.
In this mini course Naomi will talk about school trauma, how it occurs, what makes it worse and how parents can help. You'll leave with a new understanding of what has gone on for your child, why they are still affected by the past, and some ideas of what to do. This course will combine psychological theory with practical strategies and ideas.
Many neurodivergent teens are struggling to attend school, and lots of them become completely unable to attend. But what happens next? Teenagers often believe they must be at school to learn, and that their future is over. This isn't true. We don't talk much about education outside school, but it's happening all around us. In this new course, Naomi will give you some ideas to help your teenager re-engage with learning and see a life beyond school. This course focuses on the learning and educational journey, rather than mental health.
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Are you worried about whether your child is getting the right support in school? Do you want to know more about EHCPs and how to get one? This course will explain the Education, Health and Care plan process from a parent's perspective and show you examples of what a good plan looks like. Dr Abigail Fisher, educational psychologist will discuss how to approach common issues and challenges. She will offer some tips on how to get a useful plan, and how to look at a draft plan, drawing on her experience working with schools and parents.
In this mini-course, Dr Abigail Fisher, educational psychologist, delves into effective strategies for working hand-in-hand with school to support your child's unique needs. This course will give you insight into what's possible and help foster a positive and collaborative relationship with your child's school.
Are you a parent navigating the complexities of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Tribunal process? Parents say it ranks as one of their most stressful life events. This course is designed specifically to guide parents through the challenging journey. Whether you're new to the process or seeking to deepen your understanding, this mini-course by Dr Abigail Fisher (Educational Psychologist) will equip you with the knowledge and confidence you need to advocate effectively for your child's educational needs.
Dr Abigail Fisher, Educational Psychologist, will help you navigate your child’s EHCP Annual Review with confidence. You’ve got the EHCP in place, but it’s only the start of the process. She describes what should happen and when, what the legal process is and what your rights are. She will share ideas about how to make the process as useful as possible, to help ensure your child is well supported and their needs are met.
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