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Tailored tuition for EBSNA school refusal

There are many reasons why a child can refuse to attend mainstream school, and parents still want children and young people experiencing EBSNA (emotionally based school non-attendance) to have a fruitful educational journey, even though it is outside of mainstream settings. From bullying and difficulty transitioning into secondary education to the academic demands of school and mental health problems, school just isn’t for everyone. 

Every child has a unique temperament when it comes to engaging in social activities like schooling, and it’s not uncommon for them to want to withdraw to a more familiar environment, whether they are in primary or secondary school. Home tuition for school refusal helps to keep education moving forward towards specific academic aims without the pressure and stress of attending a school with hundreds of other children, in busy and noisy classrooms.

Child studying at home with supportive guidance during personalized home education.
Child walking confidently along a leafy path during flexible home education support.

Helping Every Child Find Their Stride

Fulfilling a child’s potential

We understand that managing the demands of schooling is too much for some children, and that EBSNA is rarely about an unwillingness to learn or a lack of motivation. Conversely, school refusal can be a sign that children require a bespoke approach tailored to their personality, interests, and the style of learning they respond to the most. The vast majority of children in home education are academically able to manage their studies, but issues such as anxiety, bullying, and school timetable issues prevent them from achieving their potential. 

Lionheart tutors for school refusal meet children exactly where they are academically and emotionally, rekindling a love of learning that they will carry through their lives. Our in-person or online tuition can be adapted for school refusal, providing much-needed structure and consistency in home education, whether or not a return to school is likely.

 

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  • Why homeschooling tuition can help when attendance has stopped

    Student working independently on a laptop in an elegant home study room.

    School refusal can start slowly but quickly escalate until home education is the only viable option. Many parents feel unequipped to cope with the level of schooling a child requires when they are being homeschooled, especially if they are trying to balance home and work life with educating their child. Online and in-person tuition for school refusal is ideal as it removes all of the pressures surrounding learning that can prevent a child from attending school. They don’t have to travel or deal with intense social situations, and they quickly find their feet in tuition sessions that are designed around them and delivered in a quieter environment at a pace they can handle.

  • High expectations, delivered differently

    Tutor guiding a small group of students during a focused home education session.

    Just because education is being delivered differently does not mean that academic expectations are lowered or that sessions will be generic. It simply means that the barriers they have put up when it comes to schooling can come down, allowing them to be more receptive to the learning they themselves know they are capable of. Even though a child might not cope well with a full 8-hour school day that covers multiple lessons, they can still make continued progress with an hour-long online session delivered one-to-one with a tutor they’ve come to know.

  • How Lionheart tutors rebuild confidence

    Confident student in a smart school uniform with neatly styled hair, smiling slightly in a softly lit academic setting.

    Lionheart tutors supplement parental tuition, and from day one our tutors will lay out a plan that leads to success with defined academic objectives. Homeschooling tuition for school refusal first allows the child to feel comfortable and safe in their environment before engaging in more challenging subject matter. Home tuition restores confidence in the educational process, rebuilds a child’s confidence, and pushes them to reach their potential.

How Lionheart approaches school refusal and homeschooling

A homeschooling student in a warm inviting living room, with plants and green in windows behind him

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Frequently asked questions

  • How many hours of tutoring are usually recommended for a child with school refusal?

    The right amount of tuition for homeschooled children with school refusal depends on their age, level of study, emotional state, and tolerance for learning. While some children need re-engagement with academic work after a prolonged absence, others might need assistance with reintegration so that when they return to school, there are no knowledge gaps. Sessions can be adjusted to the needs of your child, and a few 45-60 minute sessions per week is a good starting point.

  • What if my child will not engage with learning straight away?

    The root cause of school refusal might be with learning itself, so our tutors can discern the best way to engage a child with learning even if academic output is not the initial aim. Children need time to get used to a tutor and adjust to the routine, so we can tailor tuition sessions with parents present and build up gradually so they are completing tasks without experiencing any distress.

  • Do you offer tutors who understand anxiety and trauma-informed teaching?

    We take tutor-student matching seriously, and this is especially true for children with school refusal. Tutors are selected not only based on their academic credits and experience with the subject, but also on their temperament, personality, and ability to recognize signs of anxiety during sessions. This allows sessions to change pace and become more manageable for the student if necessary.

  • Can my child still make academic progress if they have missed a lot of school?

    Tuition for school refusal picks up where mainstream education stopped. Tutors will seek to identify gaps in knowledge if they have missed a lot of schooling or had interrupted teaching. From there, they will rebuild the educational process again and revisit core skills like literacy and numeracy, before expanding learning so children can catch up to their peers at their own pace.

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  • Can school refusal homeschooling lead to GCSE or IGCSE qualifications?

    It can be more difficult to arrange GCSEs and IGCSEs for multiple subjects as a parent as opposed to the school organising everything on the child’s behalf. If your child will be taking GCSEs and A-Levels, we provide specific tutor support, which will give them all of the resources they need to succeed when taking formal qualifications. We even have our own Examination Centre in London designed to meet the needs of homeschooled students.