Abstract

` Combining educational and clinical perspectives, and with extensive use of case studies, the authors present recent research into the mental health problems associated with school refusal, such as anxiety and panic attacks, as well as the role that parental support plays in their children's school life. They also discuss the role of home tuition services and pupil referral units in extreme cases of school refusal, and provides concrete strategies for planning and organising services to manage the problem effectively. Understanding School Refusal is a valuable guide for professionals across the disciplines of education, health and social care, and will also be useful for training courses within these fields.'

Education Today

School refusal is a crippling condition in which children experience extreme anxiety or panic attacks when faced with everyday school life and this handbook aims to explore and raise awareness of the problem of school refusal in children and young people, and provide plans and strategies for education, health and social care professionals for identifying and addressing this problem.

Combining educational and clinical perspectives, and with extensive use of case studies, the authors present recent research into the mental health problems associated with school refusal, such as anxiety and panic attacks, as well as the role that parental support plays in their children's school life. They also discuss the role of home tuition services and pupil referral units in extreme cases of school refusal, and provides concrete strategies for planning and organising services to manage the problem effectively.

Understanding School Refusal is a valuable guide for professionals across the disciplines of education, health and social care, and will also be useful for training courses within these fields.

This very readable little book address the issues surrounding school refusal and offers some very pratical ideas for rehabilitation of young people. This book is essential reading for those working with school refusers.
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
This is an interesting and useful handbook for all professionals working with children and young people. It clearly defines the different types of school non-attendance,distinguishing between truancy, parent-condoned absence, and school refusal. Furthermore, it provides a clear rationale for managing a return to school programme.
Therapy Today

Dr MS Thambirajah - is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Walsall who has provided valuable insights into this complex area. The book is readable and does not rely on professional jargon but uses meaningful case studies to assist the reader in extracting the key themes.

The book is appropriate for a wide range of educational practitioners including teachers, educational welfare officers and educational psychologists as well as colleagues in health-related services'.

Special
Dr M. S. Thambirajah, MB BS, FRCPsych, is Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust, UK. He has published two books on psychiatry and child mental health. Karen J. Grandison, BSc, PGCE, PG Dip, MSC, is a Senior Educational Psychologist in Walsall, and Academic and Professional Tutor at the University of Birmingham, UK. Louise De-Hayes, BA (Hons), PGCE, is Manager of the Shepwell Centre Pupil Referral Unit, Walsall.