Experiencing School Refusal & other Attendance Barriers?

Not Fine in School is a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who struggle with school attendance. This is often inaccurately or unfairly referred to as 'school refusal', so we prefer to promote use of the term 'School Attendance Barriers'. These barriers may relate to unmet Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (diagnosed or suspected), bullying, trauma, excessive levels of academic pressure, physical illness or mental illness. School attendance barriers are poorly understood, are compounded by current challenges within education and health systems, and if not removed effectively, can have severe consequences for both child and family. NFIS aims to support these children and families, and raise awareness of their experiences. NFIS is also keen to support professionals who wish to see improvements to the support offered, and change to responses within systems to reduce the numbers of children experiencing attendance barriers.

What we do

Support

Empowerment

No-one should be alone in coping with school-based anxiety and attendance barriers. We provide peer-support for family members, and advice for young people and schools.

Family Support

Empowerment

We share informative resources to help you make decisions, find solutions to remove school attendance barriers, and take positive steps to find help and support for your child and you.

Go To RESOURCES

Awareness

Empowerment

Awareness

We work alongside other organisations and people to campaign for change. We also seek out ways to share knowledge of attendance barriers and raise awareness of related issues.

Go To ATTENDANCE

Violence in Schools - A British Pandemic

"As a parent, what lengths would you go to, to protect your child from harm? By law you are forced to send your child into school but by law, the Government then allow schools to have limited accountability for any harm that your child may suffer physically and mentally, whilst under their care.

This is the story of how over a hundred families, who's children have been harmed or lost to suicide, have fought to end the practice of bullying and violence being covered up in schools."

Experiencing School Refusal & other Attendance Barriers?

What we do

Support

Empowerment

Empowerment

Empowerment

Empowerment

Empowerment

Awareness

Empowerment

Awareness

our children: individuals with hopes, feelings, needs & voices

NFIS SUMMARY GUIDES

Recommended resources

Supporting your child at school

Supporting your child at school

Supporting your child at school

SIGNS CAUSES & STRATEGIES

Supporting your child at school

Supporting your child at school

HELP to build a true picture of school attendance barriers

Violence in Schools - A British Pandemic

FINES & PROSECUTIONS DO NOT RESOLVE SCHOOL ABSENCE

PARENTS FINED BECAUSE THER SEND KIDS WON'T GO TO SCHOOL

Not Fine In School BLOG