What Can We Do When School’s Not Working?: An Illustrated Handbook for Professionals

An increasing number of children are struggling to attend school. The conventional approach prioritizes a rapid return to their setting. For some children, this simply doesn’t work. They are stuck, not attending school but not learning out of school either. What happens then—and what can we do about it?

This guide lifts the lid on the experiences of children and families who are struggling within the school system and explores how we can work with these young people to maximize their chances of a positive and fulfilled life.

The book encourages professionals to take a new perspective and consider what can be done differently. It explores the ways in which difficulties with school are understood and shows how things can go wrong (and right), using real-life examples. Chapters delve into common interventions and the impact these can have in practice, before introducing alternative approaches which have the child at the center. The voices of young people are foregrounded throughout, shedding light on their struggles with attendance.

This book offers a valuable insight into the lives of children and families when school has gone wrong and will leave you with new ideas as to how to turn things around. What Can We Do When School’s Not Working? is essential reading for professionals working with children who are struggling with school attendance, from SENCOs and educational support workers to educational psychologists, senior leadership teams, and local authorities.

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Release date

Audiobook: 8 August 2025