We call on the Government to mandate that schools must make exceptions to absence policies for children who struggle to attend school because of mental health issues, including due to recovering from trauma or due to SEND. In our view, schools must replace punishment with support.

We think we must stop penalizing parents and children for school refusal caused by mental health, trauma, SEND or abuse. The Government must fund timely mental health support, alternative education, and school-based support; ensure courts consider abuse, trauma, and disability before fines or imprisonment; and train schools and local authorities in trauma-informed approaches.