Define Fine has been created by a small, committed team of parents and professionals who have lived experience of school attendance difficulties   We are a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who experience school attendance difficulties. This is sometimes referred to as ‘school refusal’, or emotionally based school avoidance and may be due to unmet Special Educational Needs & Disabilities including physical or mental illness, either suspected or diagnosed, bullying or issues relating to academic pressure, or even the school environment. We provide peer support, using our tried and tested resources and to help parents advocate for the support their children and young people need to be able to learn and achieve. We hope to build up our growing network of peer supporters, who we can train to use our guides for their own family and ultimately to then help other families experiencing attendance difficulties. Empowering parents to be able to effectively work with professionals, should encourage not only earlier intervention, with much better outcomes, but also reduce the risk and impact of unhelpful, and unnecessary attendance prosecutions and social services  safeguarding interventions. It is vital that children, young people […]

Lotus Links is a voluntary peer support group offering emotional support to parent/carers of SEND children that experience violent anxiety-led behaviours.We meet fortnightly term time only and offer a space for parent/carers to share their experiences without blame or judgement. Connecting with other parent/carers that understand can prevent social isolation and remove the stigma surrounding this issue.