SENeXtra Sept 2021
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Your free special educational needs update Sept 2021 A   I‘ 7
School attendance 2 Anxiety : Covid-19
;"" ' v Barriers to attendance
It is difficult to say how many children
xv , are absent due to attendance barriers,
: * -  but there are government statistics to
' , , _ ‘ \ u demonstrate that children with additional
. ,5 ‘ G V needs are less likely to attend school
_ - . regularly. Pupils with a SEN statement
‘ it i or education healthcare (EHC) plan had
‘  V . . .-,- -.... a persistent absence rate of 24.6% —
 ’ ' _ .N‘_; 1''  more than twice the rate for pupils with
:5, .. "9 '* ”.’v'.', '~ _.~  V’: 1?‘ ' ' ' . ° .
 ..- 2  ‘ no identified SEN (9 0 /1)
  V   We repeatedly see the connection
 _» '  '_' “‘:v»-:‘l’<,i’_jeVf_ '95.‘  2 ,. '   -1 t.g5“§=éE‘*‘‘¢‘'''‘=.;«:.' between SEND needs and attendance
  ;,1’  ;«'3tf7. Q’ ’    '    :‘«,_'_'e.é_7,' such as these examples, which are
' “ "‘§“é':”"""   _  5 " sadly not unusual:
School attendance difficulties . .
0 ADHD, Dyslexia — diagnosed —
well supported during primary
Jannine Perryman and Louise Parker Engels explore the issues eeheoty high attainment SA-t-3_
surrounding school attendance difficulties and persistent absence. taptdty reduced attendance on
transfer to secondary. Dyslexia
The end of school holidays brings mixed Are they refusing to attend school and ADHD diagnoses disputed,
feelings, whilst some welcome a return or unable to attend? placed in lowest sets, reduced
to school and work, others are bracing Schools have clear, high expectations access to scribe, reader and
themselves for a return to their child‘s for attendance so persistent absence laptop.
term time distressing mornings — refusal is a cause for concern, not only for the
to get up, get dressed, to go to school, or school and Ofsted, but for the child‘s 0 Autistic, year 1 sensory
explosive outbursts when they get home. educational outcomes. Parents report processing communication and
that in their experience the school interaction difficulties. School
Perhaps they have a child who regularly response has been to focus on either did not agree with parents
attended primary school but school attendance difficulties being due to when they reported the signs
“refused” at secondary school, or a parenting or family expectations, or he was masking but not coping,
child who seems fine in school but has on a child's mental health as EBSA — dysregulation at home. Turned
gradually reduced attendance over emotionally based school avoidance down because school reports
time, or a child who has been reluctant - with any support available being were different to parents, serious
to attend, perhaps sometimes visibly tailored accordingly. deterioration under CAMHs,
distressed on arrival from the earliest remained on reduced timetable
stages of school, who doesn’t make it However recent government guidance for years.
into school every day. All are at risk of on improving attendance makes
being persistent absentees. numerous references to “barriers to 0 Autistic child, often sitting under
attendance”. This and other relevant his desk in sensory overload
These children may present with guidance shifts some of the focus but apparently fine. Sensitive to
tummy aches, headaches, high from parenting or child mental health, noise. Expected to join music
levels of distress or anxiety, demand to looking at the bigger picture — lessons with his whole class
avoidance, oppositional defiance, encouraging schools and LA’s to playing brass instruments.
emotional dysregulation, or sensory understand why children are struggling
overload. A number of these children to attend. This suggests they may not
may also demonstrate aserious decline be choosing or refusing — rather, they
in mental health — with potentially can't attend without the right support READ MORE
tragic consequences. when they need it.
SEnextra senmagazine.co.uk O 0 @










































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