When School Feels Impossible

When a child can't attend school, the instinct is to focus on getting them back through the door. But attendance without safety isn't progress – it's just presence. And the harder we push, the worse things often get.

This 60-minute live webinar will help you understand what's really driving school avoidance, break the shame cycle for everyone involved, and recognise progress that doesn't show up on a register.

What you'll learn:

• Why "can't vs won't" changes everything
• Breaking the shame cycle for children, parents, and professionals
• What recovery actually looks like (and it's not just attendance)
• The green shoots of progress you might be missing
• What children need from the adults around them
• Building honest partnership between home and school

Who this is for:

Parents, carers, teachers, TAs, SENCOs, and anyone supporting a child who is struggling to attend school. With both parents and educators in the room, we'll create space for honest conversation across the home-school divide.

Details:

• Date: Wednesday 25th March 2026, 7pm GMT
• Duration: 60 minutes (including Q&A)
• Platform: Live online via Zoom
• Recording: All registered attendees will receive the recording after the event
• Cost: £20 (free to paid Patreon supporters)

Patreon supporters: Paid members at any level get free access to all my live webinars. Your discount code is posted on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/free-access-code-149399872

About Dr Pooky Knightsmith:

Pooky is an autistic speaker, writer, and educator with a PhD in Psychological Medicine. She's also a parent who has navigated school attendance struggles with her own children, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Known for her straight-talking style and practical strategies, Pooky specialises in making complex ideas immediately usable.