As we farewell the first quarter, we want to touch on the theme of “challenge” and nod to the resilience of our incredible community of students, families, and teachers. We’ll talk a bit about the national and international trend of school refusal, put a spotlight on management fatigue and how we can support you with the education component. Plus, we’ve grabbed a few snippets from recent research and things we’ve been reading. We’d love to hear from you, too.
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” ~ Maya Angelo
Supporting Students With School Refusal
‘School Can’t’ is on the rise worldwide. It’s when students experience a deep reluctance about – or can’t go to – school due to health or social-emotional challenges. It’s not about wanting to skip class. This is a complex challenge that needs creative, personalised approaches by schools and families. Want to learn more about it and hear how we’re helping students reconnect to school safely? LEARN MORE
Meeting Management Fatigue
Caring for children with medical and mental conditions, alongside their educational needs, is a relentless commitment. The weight of it can lead to burnout/breakdown for parents, carers, and teachers, as they navigate the complexities of health and education systems. We offer vital support to both families and schools to help manage some of the education demands. MISSINGSCHOOL HELPLINE
Nadja’s Triumph Through Tech
Nadja, who has ME/CFS and Cerebral Palsy, found regular school tough due to health and mental health challenges. A telepresence robot was a game-changer in Nadja’s education and social connection, allowing real-time teaching and learning interactions in Computer Science (coding and all!) and positive engagement with peers and friends—a true win-win! READ THE FULL STORY
The Research We’re Reading
A recent study on long COVID in young people highlighted the struggle: “[The hardest part is] not being able to go to school or like see people my age, socialise and everything.” This echoes what we often hear from parents and teachers about students with complex health conditions leading to frequent school absences—a shared challenge across various conditions. CHECK IT OUT
At MissingSchool, we believe in the power of community. Together, we can create environments where every child feels like they belong.
It would be impossible for us to stay the course without your incredible support. There are many ways to help:
- follow along and cheer us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
- share this newsletter with your family, friends, or colleagues so we can support more kids, and
- donate towards getting kids with complex conditions back into their classroom.
Every action moves us closer to the finish line: a world where every child is seen and heard at school. Where ‘learn from anywhere’ is universal.
Let’s keep connecting,
Megan
CEO & Cofounder
