Anxious about school - understanding and supporting

For more information about my speaking and training work, visit: https://www.pookyknightsmith.com/speaking/

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Anxious About ome * "

School Sr |

Understanding & Supporting

a Lyra!

Pkg

@PookyH

[email protected] | pookyknightsmith.com

2. It's not that I
WON'T come
to school

It's that I
CAN'T

5. EBSA - 10 Barriers to School Attendance

-1- Anxiety / don't feel safe Period poverty, uniform poverty -6-

-2- Overwhelm - sensory or social Insecure housing -7-

Can't keep up Bullying or discrimination -8-

Relationship issues - w.students Fear of sanctions -9-

Relationship issues - w.staff Fear of failure -]Q-

6. With so many potential
barriers, we need to ensure
we are supporting the child

to overcome the right one

What is THEIR story?

What need is being met?

Pooks

7. Explore THIS child's
barriers so you don't
try to overcome the

wrong ones

9. UES SiS eee
Understanding the Problem
Uk ee

à A
Curious, not W " Listen to

furious understand

a ©
/ What"
/ s

Revisit at yo nes
times of calm hool FEEL? À reinforcing
, schoo)|

4 ] the cycle?

An is AN >.

11. When you wake up in the morning how do
you imagine your arrival at schoo} wil be?

r ISÉE

r IHR?

CIE

TS

D enyjlhing die.

12. Wonder
‘What happened to you?"
rather than

‘What's wrong with you?’

@PookyH

13. I don't

feel SAFE

14. Every child
has a right to
| feel eh
à SAFE
: at school
& at home

16. Emotional

17. Child accessible policies

a A

Listen and respond to safety worries

Physical

No physical or health
ces Agree on safety and checking behaviours
o others N

= CD O
N aa

— Mo Check-in with home |
—— |

Pooky

18. Key adult student can check in with

a A

Safe space they can access to regulate

Emotional

lean regulate or seek >
re Understand triggers (modify/remove/warn)

m (aa =

_ Self-soothe & anger management strategies|
\ vr = |

Pooky

19. Communicate expectations clearly & simply

A

Consistent, predictable boundaries
Social ——

| know what is expected
of me and what I can

ricos Social stories, scripts, role plays

— ie Explain & share changes in good time
| nn -

Pooky

20. Teachers as learning role models

a A

Flearning — make mistakes part of learning

Cognitive

| can try new things. | am “3
not fearful about makin.
ee Praise the process not the outcome

a TSX

— ie Student starts as passive observer

5 E 7 a

|
in ww. x = ._ 7
-

Pooky

21. I don't just need tc

safe, | need to FEEL sc

Do

L

Communicate

Reassure

22. Understand where
the child DOES
feel safe and use
this as a

springboard

23. Rddey 2 uje) ‘ages Burjooy À 7

25. Making it Work

F té 5
Child centred Work close 2 beth:
with family a differently
€ ¿ae
Tiny Steps \
Strengths Shared Plan

First y (don't overstep)

26. A sustainable return requires
more than convincing adult
motivations

It requires motivation that
comes from the child...

27. What do you miss? Who do you miss?

What are your
__— hopes?

What would feel
good? —

29. Tap into the
motivations of the
child to inform your

plans for their return

30. My strengths — pr hopes & dreams | Tai My safe
+ | -People-
| |
|
[BIG ones \
ort | love to talk...
2- My Favourite Hi My name is: art -Places-
-3- Colour
O -Phrases-
Im scared of —— pora]
Things | love rad moments: like to

(59

communicate by

Talking

O Writing
O Drawing
| O TN

‘we pookyknighsmit. com | @paokyn

32. Change the story at
home by sharing
messages or photos
of the child engaging
positively with
school

33. School Access Plan X...

EEE amt

| SAFE ADULTS andhou to access hum
PLACES ana howto acer them

THINGS I CAN DO toner
TIMETABLE — |
THINGS ADULTS CAN DO to toipme.
ADJUSTMENTS +
Review Date

35. Small, Slow, Sustainable Steps

are the route to success

36. >
re
=
O
ahs
nm
wo
=
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—
NM)
w
co
=
D)
—!

x a
|
|

©
| |
\ |
N 4
à 4

Don't assume what the problem is, figure it out - Find a way

4 for me to be heard even if it's unconventional

Identify my safe spaces and faces and help me

/ access them

Help me have a soft landing when I arrive (especially
ona Monday)

37. It's not that I
WON'T come to
school

It's that I CAN'T

Maybe, with your

help, I Can?

38. Connect with Pooky

© @pookyh A pookyknightsmith.com m
E) facebook.com/pookyh patreon.com/pookyh (a)

@pookyh linkedin.com/in/pooky (in)

© youtube.com/pookyh pookyknightsmith.substack.com =

Speaking & Webinar Enquiries: [email protected]

39. Pas rk] NEW!
ait] The Human Kind Award

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A Robust Framework

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40. Let's Work Together?

Webinar or Face-2-Face, popular topics include:

e Autism € ADHD

Emotionally based school avoidance

e Trauma-informed practice

e Staff wellbeing

e Joy, Belonging, Connection, Fun

e Whole school approach to mental health
e Communication