Help avoid escalation to school can’t (school refusal)
February 26, 2026
School attendance in Australia has been declining over the last decade.[1] [2] As many as 5% of school-age children are believed to feel they can’t attend school. [3] Higher levels are evident amongst children with unmet learning and/or social-emotional needs and those experiencing anxiety and depression.
In Australia, many people describe school refusal as ‘school can’t’, as the word ‘refusal’ implies that children are choosing not to attend school. In fact, for these children non-attendance is not a deliberate choice, but an inability to attend.[4] Moreover, their non-attendance is not misbehaviour or a choice,[5] but often a cry for help.
Early intervention
Noticing early warning signs of poor attendance and implementing intervention practices supported by relationship-based teaching approaches, can help to avoid escalation to school can’t. Building connections between home and school and a proactive welfare system will help students to feel safe and empowered and promote a sense of positive self-worth.
- Monitor attendance data. When school attendance problems emerge, review the child’s needs to help identify the possibility of underlying neurodevelopmental, learning or social-emotional issues. In some cases, the child will benefit (with parental consent) from a psycho-educational assessment either at school, a private practice or via the public system.
- Respond immediately to successive or prolonged absences. You or a member of the leadership or wellbeing team need to contact the parents/carers to enquire about the child and any efforts being made to support school attendance. NSW research [6]suggests school refusal – school can’t may be developing if the child has unexplained or questionable patterns of absenteeism indicated by:
- absences of two days or more over a two-week period.
- partial absences and/or frequent lateness to school or classes which may relate to anxiety-based issues.
- absence on Mondays, after holidays, school camps or sports days.
- absence on scheduled days for tests, speeches or physical education.
- Identify warning signs and intervene early to avoid escalation beyond irregular attendance. School leadership, classroom teachers and wellbeing teams can often avert an attendance problem by working with the child and/or family to successfully engage the child. Successful interventions may involve making simple academic, social and emotional adjustments for the child. For example, not placing the onus for change on the child rather integrating inclusive teacher practices that promote a sense of wellbeing and safety, helping to address social/emotional challenges, adjusting or supporting academic demands and encouraging the child to find happiness and fun in their school day.
Psych4Schools recently released a new edition of the ebooklet Working with children who school refuse – school can’t to support teachers, schools and families to better understand how to help these children.
Psych4Schools offers a comprehensive library of resources dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing, teaching and learning of children and young adolescents.
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Kind regards,
Murray Evely,
Psych4Schools Psychologist/Guidance Officer
You can contact us via email at: info@psych4schools.com.au
References
[1] Howard, N. and Bills, A. (2023) School attendance rates are dropping. We need to ask our students why. The conversation, February 27. https://theconversation.com/school-attendance-rates-are-dropping-we-need-to-ask-students-why-200537
[2] ABC TV 4 Corners ‘The Kids Who Can’t’ documentary revealed the struggles of children ‘refusing’ to attend school, and the impact on their families. Series 2024. 46 minutes. https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2403H011S00
[3] The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, (2018) Re-engaging School Refusers. February 7 in Patient and family centered care, https://www.rchfoundation.org.au/2018/02/reengaging-school-refusers/
[4] Amin, M., Ettinger-Epstein, S., and Roberts, A (2024) What is ‘school refusal’ and what can I do if my child struggles to get to school? ABC News, Tuesday 30 April
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-30/school-refusal-cant-what-to-do-four-corners-explained/103779990
[5] Stokes, H., and Brunzell, T., (2020) Leading Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools. Leading and Managing 26, 1, 70 – 77.
[6] NSW Government, NSW School-Link, Sydney Catholic Schools, ais NSW (n.d) School refusal, every school day counts.