Chronic conditions require significant planning and are significantly time consuming to manage. Extensive days or lengthy periods not at school can result in difficulties proving the reason for non attendance. Other factors to consider is knowledge in advance of the need for medical certificates and comfort level communicating with school the reasons as to why the individual has not been attending.
Hiding one area of concern from school due to a need to manage confidentiality or complexity can be a huge challenge for families. Information that is hidden can relate to the level of difficulties being experienced in the first place. It can also relate to a need to protect themselves from the level of challenges that are being experienced at school and the impact on health and wellbeing which can exacerbate underlying chronic conditions.
Understanding the build up of concern regarding lack of school attendance can be difficult for families to navigate. Prioritising health issues such as sleep or recurrent illnesses or the whole family coping with the challenges being faced requires extensive support from those working with the family. Sessions need to focus not just on building up of skills for the individual student but on management support strategies for the parents with goal setting and prioritising where and how they focus their attention to navigate through school refusal, illnesses, suspensions and the need to find a new placement or the lack of options present that suit their child.