Start gently
Start with “Something about school feels hard. I want to understand.” Listen without assuming the cause.
Choose one small change
Offer one manageable next step: a drink, getting dressed or looking at the plan. Avoid escalating threats or making promises you cannot keep.
Notice what fits
Ask about noise, learning, friendships, safety or the arrival itself when your child is settled. Their answer may take time.
Ask for support
Contact school early if distress or absence continues. Agree a plan together, including who meets your child and when you will review it. Attendance requirements still apply; a printable is not a substitute for individual advice.
References and further reading
These sources inform the ideas; they do not validate this Hearth sequence or predict an individual outcome.
Hearth offers wellbeing self-help, not medical care or a crisis service. These ideas are not an assessment and cannot predict what will work for your child.
Make a school-morning plan