The school are punishing me for my daughter’s anxiety
DEAR DEIDRE: HOW do I cope with my daughter, who has severe school anxiety?
She gets so upset and anxious about going to school that we have a battle every morning.
She’ll cry, scream and beg to stay at home, and sometimes I almost have to physically drag her there.
She’s nine and she has never enjoyed school much due to social problems – but her anxiety has got worse since the lockdowns. I’m her 40-year-old single mum.
Over the last year, she has missed so many days that the school is now talking about fining me.
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That seems terribly unfair. It’s not my fault, and it certainly doesn’t help my daughter.
I’m so worried for her future, and this is also making it difficult for me to work.
DEIDRE SAYS: There has been a big rise in school anxiety since the lockdowns.
The school should be helping your daughter, not punishing you.
Please talk to your GP about her anxiety and approach the charity Youngminds.org.uk (parents’ helpline: 0808 802 5544) for advice.
Counselling could be one tool to help your daughter with her issues. And you could contact ACE Education (ace-ed.org.uk, 0300 115 142) – an independent advice centre offering information about education issues.
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