School Refusal in Scotland: What Parents Can Do

Your child won’t go to school. Not “doesn’t want to” — physically can’t. They’re in tears at the school gate, or frozen in bed, or complaining of stomach pain every morning that disappears by lunchtime. You’ve tried bribing, reasoning, shouting, and nothing works. You’re terrified of the attendance officer. Here’s what you need to know.

This is not truancy

School refusal — increasingly called emotionally based non-attendance (EBNA) — is fundamentally different from truancy. A truant skips school to do something else. A school refuser is usually at home, often distressed, and would attend if they could. The distinction matters because the response should be support, not punishment.

Common triggers include anxiety (social, generalised, or separation), autism or ADHD (diagnosed or undiagnosed), bullying, a difficult transition (P7→S1 is a common flashpoint), trauma, and school-related stress around exams. Sometimes there is no single identifiable cause.

Your legal position

The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requires parents to ensure their child receives “efficient education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude.” This does not mean your child must attend school — it means they must receive an education. Home education satisfies the duty. A reduced timetable with council agreement satisfies it. The law is broader than most people think.

Prosecution for non-attendance is extremely rare in Scotland. Councils have moved towards supportive approaches, particularly since the pandemic increased non-attendance rates significantly. If you receive threatening letters about attendance, contact Enquire (Scotland’s national advice service for additional support in education) at enquire.org.uk.

What the school should be doing

If your child is refusing to attend, the school has a duty to respond — not just to mark absences. A reasonable response includes:

• A meeting with you to understand what’s happening and agree a plan
• A reduced timetable or phased return — attending for two hours a day, or specific subjects only, as a stepping stone
• A safe space within the school where your child can go when overwhelmed
• Educational psychology referral if the school hasn’t already done so
• CAMHS referral (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) for anxiety or emotional support
• ASN assessment if your child may have undiagnosed additional support needs

If the school is doing none of these things — just phoning you about absences — escalate to the council’s ASN team and request a formal meeting.

What NOT to do

• Don’t force your child into the building. Physical force increases trauma and makes the problem worse. If they are in genuine distress, forcing attendance does not teach resilience — it teaches them that their distress doesn’t matter.
• Don’t punish non-attendance. Taking away screens, grounding, or withdrawing privileges treats school refusal like misbehaviour. It isn’t.
• Don’t wait and hope. The longer the absence continues, the harder the return becomes. Get professional support early — even if the GP, school and CAMHS all have waiting lists, start the referral process now.

CAMHS and waiting lists

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is the NHS route for professional support. The reality is that waiting lists in Scotland are long — often 12 to 18 months for a first appointment. This is frustrating and inadequate, but it is the current situation.

While waiting, ask the school about:

• School-based counselling (many secondaries have an in-house counsellor)
• Third-sector support (charities like Place2Be, Barnardo’s and Action for Children run school-based mental health support in some areas)
• The council’s educational psychology service (separate from CAMHS and often has shorter waits)

When to consider home education

Some families reach a point where school is causing more harm than good. Home education is legal in Scotland and does not require the council’s permission. It can be temporary (a few months while your child recovers) or permanent.

If you’re considering this route, read our home education guide for the legal framework. The key point: you are not failing your child by removing them from an environment that is making them ill. You are meeting your legal duty to provide an education — just in a different way.

What we’d want someone to tell us

School refusal is one of the most isolating experiences a parent can go through. You feel like you’re the only one, and you feel judged — by the school, by other parents, sometimes by family. You are not the only one. Non-attendance rates in Scotland have risen sharply since 2020, and councils are slowly recognising that punitive approaches don’t work.

Get a GP appointment. Get the school to commit to a plan in writing. Start the CAMHS referral even if the wait is long. Contact Enquire (enquire.org.uk) — they are genuinely helpful and free. And if the school isn’t meeting you halfway, don’t be afraid to say so. Your child’s wellbeing comes first. The attendance percentage can be fixed later.