There's so many great points made in the Anna Freud thinking differently manifesto annafreud.org/manifesto/ But let's start by focusing on the section on education

So, excessive internet use, lack of sleep & low parental trust are key factors in school absence. Not depression & anxiety which just might have a similar impact on relationships, sleep, isolation & seeking connection online. Sort yourselves out, parents. tinyurl.com/4vn23b9p

Two scandals in one: the truancy laws and the single justice procedure. Support Square Peg #3asks

'There is a distinct blind spot about how school suspensions and expulsions perpetuate wider social inequalities'.

Thank you Jessica Hill for pointing out that the figure of 116,652 fines issued so far this year in this story begins in the academic year, which means the number of fines is falling, not increasing. Apologies for my error. tinyurl.com/2ptvbp77

Just a reminder, this petition is nearly at 300,000. Please support change.org/p/updated-atte… Tanya Barman

It's not often you find an ally in the Express, but take a look at this disgraceful story. Also - 116,652 fines issued so far this year, and we're only a quarter of the way through. last year there were 296,000 for the whole year tinyurl.com/2ptvbp77.

From the brilliant webinar I'm attending: 'Emotionally Based School Avoidance - What is next in Greater Manchester and beyond?'

So true. So important. I was told 'the evidence says that the longer a child is out of school, the more difficult it is to return'. It may be true, but to extrapolate that you should pressurise a child to return within a tight timeframe is simply wrong and harmful to a child.

Has anyone, anywhere in the world, read a survey or a piece of a research that has ever said that children's behaviour is improving? Genuine question. (this is not meant to belittle violence against teachers, which i utterly deplore) bbc.co.uk/news/education…

Missing from the solutions: parent peer to peer support. In Australian research it was by far the most popular support for parents (85%). Embrace lived experience & expertise & work with families.
SEND reforms a decade on: How it went wrong & how to fix it tinyurl.com/muc2ntmw

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders ...they contradict their parents...and tyrannize their teachers.” - attrb to Socrates. Has any research ever found children's behaviour improving? tinyurl.com/3t23xrty

Has anyone, anywhere in the world, read a survey or a piece of a research that has ever said that children's behaviour is improving? Genuine question. (this is not meant to belittle violence against teachers, which i deplore) bbc.co.uk/news/education…

Yes! Our differences are our strengths. The only side you have to be on is the child and young person's.

It's terrible that teachers face violence. The trouble with the article is that it posits strict discipline as a cure for bad behaviour -sometimes it’s the cause. Boundaries are important, but reverting to simplistic responses is just depressing & wrong. bbc.co.uk/news/education…

I love Think Again, by Naomi Fisher naomicfisher.substack.com/?r=ewm0j&utm_c… and have signe up

Exactly. It's disgraceful and discriminatory, as is so much in our education system. Why are barriers being put up to prevent SEN children from having the education that they have a right to?

I don't know about Scotland, but schools in England could solve some of the problem by being more inclusive, rather than less. Too many children can't adapt to mainstream schools because our education system is inflexible and won't meet their needs. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

This is shocking, but it's not unprecedented. Is this legal? can this be challenged? Has anyone any advice?IPSEA

This looks like an alarming increase in exclusions in data from FFT Education Datalab If the govt believes every day matters, why don't they focus on this? Inclusion over attendance.