Define Fine: Parent Peer Support for 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 run regular online webinars and workshops to share effective methods of advocacy and requests for support, and work closely with other SEND support groups, and in some areas with the LA and/or SENDIASS.  We do not charge for support services as we are grant and donation funded, although we do charge a fee to organisations  who invite us to present our workshops, or to speak at conferences and we are currently in the process of registering our courses for CPD Certification. 

We are building up a growing network of parent peer supporters, who we train and support to use our guides to enable them to communicate with professionals and request the necessary support to improve attendance.   Many of our parents, who we have supported in the past, choose to stay with us to help other families experiencing attendance difficulties.   

What kinds of SEND does the school provide for?

CREATED Academy School can provide consultation for children with EHCPs and provide appropriate support where necessary.

How does this setting know if their children/young person needs extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

EHCPs are reviewed at point of referral and provide support for schools and families to apply for an EHCP where appropriate.

How will the setting support my child/young person?

How will teaching approaches and the curriculum be matched to my child or young person's needs?

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support their learning?

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall wellbeing?

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting?

What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND have had or are having?

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

How accessible is the environment?

How will the setting prepare and support my child/young person to join the next stage of education and life?

How are the setting's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

How will our child and young person be involved in the decisions about their learning?

How will we be involved in the decisions about the learning of our children and young people?

How are parents involved in the setting? How can I be involved?

What do I do if I want to make a complaint?

What other support Is available to parents and how can I contact them?