Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
A mother is desperately seeking assistance to help her children who have been out of school for an extended period due to severe anxiety. Beverly Craig shared that her 14-year-old son, Casey, and 12-year-old daughter, Autumn, experience extreme distress whenever they are near their school, which has resulted in their prolonged absence from class. The issue of “school-based anxiety” is a significant concern in Northern Ireland, with thousands of children missing a considerable portion of their school days during the current academic year, as reported by BBC News NI. The Department of Education acknowledged the challenge of improving pupil attendance, stating that it is not isolated to Northern Ireland alone.
Concerns over high levels of “emotionally based school avoidance” have prompted the Children’s Commissioner, Chris Quinn, to initiate an investigation into the matter. Various factors, such as anxiety, ADHD, autism, and bullying, have been identified as contributing to children’s reluctance to attend school. SDLP assembly member Cara Hunter disclosed that she is in contact with 200 families across Northern Ireland whose children are refusing to go to school. More than 4,000 pupils with the highest absenteeism rates are currently being referred to specialists for assistance, though the extent to which this is linked to “emotionally based school avoidance” remains uncertain.
Beverly Craig revealed that Casey has not attended school since Easter of the previous year, while Autumn has been absent since September. Both children are enrolled at Laurel Hill Community College in Lisburn but find the school environment overwhelming. Despite offers of reduced timetables and “time-out” passes, the secondary school setting continues to be distressing for Casey and Autumn, prompting their mother to seek alternative educational options. Ms. Craig emphasized the need for education authorities to provide more support to families in similar situations, as she is currently personally funding private English and mathematics education for her children.
Mental health consultant Bronagh Starrs suggested that Northern Ireland is experiencing an “epidemic” of school-based anxiety, with children exhibiting intense fear about attending school. These individuals often face genuine psychological challenges that prevent them from participating in school activities. The issue has intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, leaving many children struggling to reintegrate into school routines. The Children’s Commissioner and Education Authority are actively exploring the root causes of school-based anxiety to ensure that appropriate support mechanisms are in place for affected children and young people
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.