Define Fine has been created by a small, committed team of parents and professionals who have lived experience of school attendance difficulties.

They are a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who experience school attendance difficulties. This is sometimes referred to as ‘school refusal’, or emotionally based school avoidance and may be due to unmet Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including physical or mental illness, either suspected or diagnosed, bullying or issues relating to academic pressure, or even the school environment.

They provide peer support, using their tried and tested resources and to help parents advocate for the support their children and young people need to be able to learn and achieve. They hope to build up their growing network of peer supporters, who they can train to use their guides for their own family and ultimately to then help other families experiencing attendance difficulties. They provide 1:1 help for parents and carers who need help and support.

Empowering parents to be able to effectively work with professionals, should encourage not only earlier intervention, with much better outcomes, but also reduce the risk and impact of attendance prosecutions and social services safeguarding interventions. It is vital that children, young people and their families receive appropriate support.

You can search for their website, where there is a contact page.