School Refusal

Defining school refusal behaviour

School Refusal Behaviour (SRB) is when a child or adolescent shows reluctance or refusal to remain in class all day or attend school on an ongoing basis (Lyon & Coltern, 2007; Heyne et al., 2019; & Sewell, 2008). Caregivers are aware that their child is staying home from school over a prolonged period of time.  SRB is seen in children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 (Kearney, Cook, & Chapman, 2007).

School refusal behaviour as a part of normal development

Most children have occasional days when they do not want to go to school because they’re worried about something, such as a test, participating in a swimming carnival or seeing a peer they had an argument with the previous day. When this happens, families can help their child by talking through the issues, encouraging them or letting them have a rare day off school. Usually, this reluctance or refusal to go to school fades.

School refusal behaviour of concern

However, some children show a repetitive and persistent pattern of reluctance or refusal to attend school. When SRB is prolonged and ongoing, it becomes ingrained in the child.  Setzer and Salhauer (2001) use the following descriptors to identify the severity and the chronicity of the various types of SRB:

• Initial SRB: Lasts for a brief period (less than two weeks) and may resolve without intervention.
• Substantial SRB: Lasts for a minimum of two weeks and requires some form of intervention.
• Acute SRB: Lasts for two weeks to one year, being a consistent problem for a majority of the time.
• Chronic SRB: Interferes or overlaps with two or more academic years.

Impact of school refusal behaviour

Short-term impacts for the child include poor academic performance, family difficulties, difficulties with maintaining friendships, problems with peers, and increased risk of legal trouble which can lead to longer-term consequences (Kearney, 2001; Wijetunge & Lakmini, 2011). Long-term consequences include social isolation, academic underachievement, employment issues, increased risk of mental health problems and developing a psychiatric illness in adulthood, such as panic disorder and agoraphobia (Fremont, 2003; Flakierska-Praquin et al, 1997 and Sewell, 2008).

For the family, the resulting cumulative stress from supporting a child with SRB can lead to familial conflict, disrupted routines, increased financial expense and increased potential for poor supervision or child maltreatment (Kearney, 2001).

For the school, SRB presents a challenge and causes frustration. Therefore, it is vital that SRB is addressed as early as possible and that home and school work together to support the child.

Positive support resources for school refusal behaviour

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) focuses on evidence-based strategies and person-centred supports that address the needs of the individual and the underschool refusal questioning causes of s of concern, to enhance the quality of life for both the individual and those that support them.

PBS recognises that there is no single cause for SRB . It is a complex that is a product of the interaction between multiple factors contributing to its development and persistence.

SRB is like the tip of the iceberg so it is essential to look beneath the surface to work out the why before we can address the problem. Behaviour Help resources are at hand.