Persistent Absence | Debs Kemp

In this episode, expert guest, Debs Kemp, talks to Clare about persistent absence from school. They discuss possible reasons children might not be attending school, including anxiety, relationships, resilience, and bullying.

Debs Kemp is an experienced Assistant Headteacher in the South East of England. She has extensive experience leading on behaviour, teaching and learning, and student voice. She is also a regional lead for WomenEd, a group for women leaders in education.

Debs recommends reading an article from Young Minds called school anxiety and refusal.

The three top tips Debs shares with us in the episode are:

1. 1. Listen. Listen to your child, look at the reasons, and try to unpick why they might not want to attend school.

1. 1. Communication. Find the time to communicate, and prioritise that communication. Ensure you are communicating well with your child’s school too, and that the school is communicating well with you as a parent/carer.

1. 1. Trust. Have trust and patience that there is a way of supporting your child through this time and that there is a positive resolution.

The My Family Coach podcasts covers every aspect of children’s behaviour, all in handy 15 minute (ish) bite-sized chunks. Each episode features a new guest chatting about a different aspect of behaviour and leaves you with three handy tips to use at home.