Teenagers are learning how to manage bigger emotions, greater expectations, friendships, setbacks and increasing independence. As a parent or carer, you can't remove every difficulty from their path — and you don't need to. What you can do is help your teenager develop the skills, confidence and support they need to cope when things don't go to plan. Resilience isn't about expecting your teenager to "toughen up." It's about helping them learn that difficult feelings can be ma

School can be a significant source of pressure for teenagers. Academic expectations, friendships, exams, social pressures, transitions and uncertainty can all affect how a young person feels and behaves. Teachers can't remove every challenge a student faces. But the classroom can become an important place where young people learn: "I can cope with challenges. I can make mistakes. I can ask for help. I can try again." Resilience develops through relationships, skills, opportun

If your child is struggling with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and school isn’t offering the support you need, you are not alone. Many families feel lost. Instead of receiving practical advice or a clear plan, they face attendance meetings, threats of fines and pressure to get their child back into school, with little guidance on what to do next. But what happens when your child simply cannot manage school, and nobody seems to be listening? First, take a breath. Y

EBSA: What it is, what it isn't, and how we can support young people

For many families, this school year has been incredibly challenging. If you're finding yourself thinking, "We simply can't do another year like this," you may be exploring home education as an option for September. Making the decision to educate your child at home can feel overwhelming. You may be asking yourself: Where do I even begin? What resources are available? Do I need to follow a curriculum? What does the law say about home education? How can I ensure my child receive

For 18 years, I worked my way from a newly qualified teacher to deputy headteacher across a range of secondary and upper schools. Along the way, I navigated endless government reforms, shifting pedagogical trends, and policies that often felt damaging to both staff and young people—while still being expected to present them as being in students’ best interests. Far from the Role I Was Trained For Although I trained to educate and inspire young minds, the reality of my role be

The government’s new SEND White Paper proposes major changes to how children with additional needs are supported in schools. Here’s a clear, parent-friendly summary of what’s being suggested. A New Plan for Every Child with SEND A key proposal is the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for every child with SEND. Currently, many children do not have a legal entitlement to specific support. ISPs are intended to change that by giving families a clear right to perso

If you are looking to deregister your child from school, or have recently deregistered them and want to begin home educating but don’t know where to start, then read our clear and concise guide below. We’ve compiled all the information that you need to know in one place to ensure you understand all requirements and can provide your child with the best education moving forward. Please note this relates to UK schools only. Step 1 - Deregistering your child. To deregister your

What are the current rules of home education ? The current situation in the UK is that every family has the right to electively home educate their child. If your child is not registered with a school there is no requirement to do so. If your child is registered with a school, you can legally deregister them simply by sending written confirmation to the school and requesting your child be removed from the school roll. A family must provide an education suitable to the needs

Deciding on the best educational path for your child is a significant and deeply personal choice, and more families than ever are...

Traditional library When we talk about education in the UK, university pathways often take centre stage. But beyond the lecture halls and...

What is it, what causes it, and what is the solution? Persistent absenteeism from school is defined as attendance below 90%, and it has...

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a unique profile within the autism spectrum that revolves around a heightened need to avoid...

Education is often called the great equaliser, but the systems in place are outdated and ill-equipped to meet the needs of the 21st...

Education isn’t just about classrooms and textbooks—it’s about opening doors to opportunity and creating a world where everyone can...

Most young people attend mainstream state schools in the UK, but those with particular needs, anxieties and diagnoses may find...

We are recruiting! The Phoenix Project online learning is a new and growing alternative provision at the start of its journey to provide...