Understanding School Refusal: A Handbook for Professionals in Education, Health and Social Care

Thambiraj, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, distinguishes school refusal (difficulty in attending school because of emotional reasons or anxiety) from other forms of school non-attendance, such as truancy, and provides strategies for identifying and addressing this problem. Combining educational and clinical perspectives, and with extensive use of case studies, the book examines the entire spectrum of school refusal, from reluctance to attend school to persistent and prolonged school refusal, covering issues such as mental health problems associated with school refusal, the role of parental support, and the role of home tuition services. As well as offering practical advice for frontline practitioners who work with children, the book also makes recommendations for those planning and organizing services. The audience for the book includes education, health, and social care professionals. The author is affiliated with Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust, UK. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Dr M. S. Thambirajah, MB BS, FRCPsych, is Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust, UK. He has published two books on psychiatry and child mental health. Karen J. Grandison, BSc, PGCE, PG Dip, MSC, is a Senior Educational Psychologist in Walsall, and Academic and Professional Tutor at the University of Birmingham, UK. Louise De-Hayes, BA (Hons), PGCE, is Manager of the Shepwell Centre Pupil Referral Unit, Walsall.