EVERY DAY COUNTS

Anxiety about going to school

Going to school is usually an exciting and enjoyable event for children and adolescents. However most children are occasionally reluctant to go to school or have some anxiety about friendship groups, assessment tasks, projects, learning tasks, presentations, homework, getting behind in learning, or just not completely understanding the subject content, school yard activities can be daunting, physical activities or having to go on school camp; it is also normal that at some stage in life most of us will feel anxious when faced with a difficult situation.

Anxiety becomes a problem when it is persistent and prevents a person from enjoying normal life experiences for a long period of time. Together we can help you cope with anxiety in effective ways and, in doing so, help them develop self-confidence and resilience.

How can I tell if a child has anxiety?

Signs of anxiety include:

Having lots of worries and a strong need for reassurance
Psychosomatic symptoms which occur before school (e.g. nausea, stomach aches, headaches or shortness of breath). These symptoms will reduce when the threat (fear of going to school) is removed
Crying, being clingy or fidgeting when nervous
Sleep problems such as difficulty falling asleep, nightmares or trouble sleeping alone
Fear and avoidance of a range of different issues and situations.

Why are some children anxious about going to school?

Anxiety may affect children at any age. The causes of anxiety may be different for young children than for teenagers:

Separation anxiety (being afraid to be away from parents/carers)
Problems at school such as:
- Being bullied and/or cyberbullied
- Learning difficulties
- Assessments due
- Exams / Tests
- Physical Altercations
- School yard problems
- Getting behind on learning
- Not having equipment to learn ie: Laptop, books, equipment
Social isolation, not fitting in, friendship conflicts
Feeling lost at school
Fear of getting into trouble
Not getting along with a teacher
New situations like the first day in a new class or the first day in a new school
Failure – worry their schoolwork will be too hard, they won’t be able to keep up, or they won’t know the correct answer when called on in class
Fear of losing a parent. They may think something bad will happen to a parent due to:
- A parent/carer being ill
- Family problems and fighting
- Domestic Violence
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Parents separating
- Knowing another child who has lost a parent or whose family has broken up

What can we do?

It is important not to dismiss a child’s anxiety but to help them see that the situations they are worried about may not be as bad as they think.

Remain calm: you will be better placed to make them feel more confident. Try not to let a child see that you are worried or frustrated
Listen to the child: encourage him/her/them to share their feelings and fears
Don’t dismiss a child’s feelings: everyone feels afraid sometimes and a child might perceive this as you not understanding or not caring about their concerns
Talk it through: discuss various scenarios, possible outcomes and ways to handle situations to help a child develop problem solving strategies
Let them have a go: avoid taking over or giving a child the impression you will fight their battles for them. Some children with anxiety are happy for others to do things for them and if you take over, it might stop them learning how to cope for themselves. It also reinforces a perception that they are helpless and that someone will rescue them
Remind a child: everyone makes mistakes and that this is where the best learning comes from
Be punctual: Avoid being late when picking up or dropping off a child up from school
Problem solve: with a child about what is causing the anxiety. For instance, if a child has problems walking through the front gate, arrange for them to meet a friend or use another entrance. If they find socialising in the yard before school starts a source of anxiety, arrange for them to arrive just before the bell
Encourage & reassure: even if they will be late encourage them to go to school; reassure them that you will contact the school to explain
See the GP: arrange for a visit to the GP if a child reports persistent physical complaints
Be consistent: have a clear agreement between parents/carers (even if separated) that school attendance is not optional and communicate this in a clear and calm manner to the child
Reward: provide rewards for appropriate behaviour and avoid unintentionally rewarding school avoidance
Be clear: be clear with instructions and requests and consistent with consequences
Be involved: if possible, be active in a child’s school through things like the school council or the canteen
Support: model skills for becoming more independent and how to manage appointments, multiple homework tasks and competing demands
Seek assistance: there is assistance and support available. The sooner you talk to the school about concerns, the better.
Get support: if things are feeling overwhelming and distressing

School refusal

School refusing children experience significant emotional distress not only when going to school but also at the thought of going to school; they may be absent from school for weeks or even months at a time. School refusal differs from truancy as children generally stay home with the knowledge of the parents and despite their best efforts to encourage their child to go to school.

School refusal can be very distressing for parents/carers who can find it very difficult to manage and address; it can cause conflict in the home and disrupt routines. Identifying the cause of school refusal can be difficult and there may be a number of factors that contribute to it. Early intervention is essential as prolonged absences from school can greatly impact a child’s social and emotional development, academic achievement and vocational opportunities.

Truancy

Truancy or out of class without a teacher permission is more common than we want to acknowledge. Truancy is a sign of many childhood behaviours, such as avoidance from learning, friendship group matters, fear, anxiety, difficulties in learning, social and emotional upheavals, puberty, isolation, dislike for learning or a teacher to name a few reasons. We know when students choose to be truant then we need to intervene early to help get students back on track. The longer a student avoids the classroom, the more difficult it becomes to re-engage them in learning.

At Craigieburn Secondary College we track and record attendance period by period and parents/carers are communicated regularly on their child’s/children’s unexplained absences and attendance rates. We encourage parents/carers to use Compass Attendance daily to check your child’s/children’s attendance and academic progress. Do not hesitate, if there are any reasons for concern, please contact the your child’s year level coordinator or sub-school manager who are there to help and work together with you to find the best solutions to getting your child back engaged in the classroom activities and learning; support your child’s continued learning, and/or to transition to a best fit learning environment.

Further assistance

At Craigieburn Secondary College we encourage our students and families to reach out for help and together in partnership we aim to keep your child/children engaged in their educational journey. Sometimes you may need assistance from professionals who can help anxious children. Discuss your concerns with your child’s sub-school year level coordinator or sub-school manager. They can help address any school-based issues, refer your child to the college multi-disciplinary allied health team, school counselling services and make recommendations about professional support.

Alternatively, families could seek support from your GP who can assist with a referral to mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist. They can help a child overcome their anxiety using mindfulness, improving self-confidence and self-esteem and helping children change the way they think about difficult situations.

Top attendance tips for parents/carers

Schools want to work in partnership with parents/carers – act early if you have any concerns by contacting us and asking for advice and support
Remember that every day counts, and connectedness to school is what counts to successful engagement at school
There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day and the pathways that lead on from school
Report absences promptly via Compass, attendance@craigieburnsc.vic.edu.au or leave a voice mail at 9308 1144
Explain absences in advance so that Extended Absence learning plans and continued learning support can be arranged
Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
Seek help from the sub-school if you are concerned about your child’s/children’s attendance and wellbeing.

Every Day Counts – It’s Never too late to improve attendance!

We want to work in partnership with parents/carers to support student attendance, engagement and wellbeing!

Useful Websites & Contacts

Craigieburn Secondary College Wellbeing and Allied Health Team - www.craigieburnscwellbeing.edu.au

Kids Matter - www.kidsmatter.edu.au

Youth Beyond Blue - www.youthbeyondblue.com.au

Headspace - www.headspace.org.au

Reach Out – www.reachout.com

Raising Children Network - www.raisingchildren.net.au

Kids helpline - 1800 55 1800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or web counselling

Parent line – 1300 30 1300 (8am to 10pm seven days a week)

Source: DET (April 2021) Attendance Improving Strategies

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