Wellbeing

Supporting Students Through School Reluctance or Refusal

At Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, we are deeply committed to working in partnership with families to support every student in feeling safe, confident, and connected at school.

We understand that some children may experience periods of school reluctance or refusal. This can be a challenging and emotional time for both students and their families, and it’s important to know you’re not alone.

To support families navigating this, we’ve attached a comprehensive resource: “Responding to School Reluctance or Refusal: Strategies for Parents.”This guide offers practical and compassionate strategies to identify the signs, understand the underlying causes, and work collaboratively with your child and their school to create a positive path forward.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Talking with your child about what’s causing their reluctance
• Working together with the school
• Managing anxiety and physical symptoms
• Supporting social or learning difficulties
• Building confidence and independence
• Developing return-to-school plans
• Looking after your own wellbeing as a parent

To further support students and families, classroom teachers and I will be working closely with families, including holding Student Support Group (SSG) meetings, creating individual attendance plans, and exploring tailored strategies to meet each student’s needs.

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If you would like to speak with someone from our wellbeing team or have concerns about your child’s school attendance or engagement, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Amanda Bailey

Leading Teacher - Mental Health and Wellbeing

Bimbadeen Heights Primary School