Course: Navigating School Refusal or School Can’t
Grounded in The School Reconnection Pathway to re-engage with learning.
Navigating School Refusal or School Can’t
5 MODULE COURSE
School Refusal or School Can’t impacts the whole family’s well-being, your relationships and the ability to see a positive future. Experiencing school refusal or school can’t can feel overwhelming, isolating and emotionally exhausting.
Navigating School Refusal or School Can’t is a comprehensive course grounded in The School Reconnection Pathway, supporting your family toward re-engaging with learning.
Blending lived experience with evidence-based strategies, this course helps you understand your child’s needs, move beyond the pressure of ‘must’s’ and ‘should’s’, and focus on what’s truly needed right now - building clarity, confidence, safety, capacity, connection and a sense that things can move forward.
This course is for you if you’re finding yourself asking:
Will my child ever return to school?
Why isn’t anything we’ve tried working?
How do I know when to step back or keep going?
Am I making the right decisions?
What will their future look like?
Why does this feel so much harder for our family than for others?
Why don’t people understand what we’re going through?
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NDIS Eligibility
Claimable using NDIS funding for self managed and plan managed families. This course is billed under CB Daily Activity, Improved Daily Living Skills, Training for Carers/Parents.
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Evidence based
The course content and success work are evidence based and focus on communication, interpersonal interactions and improved community living.
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Lived Experience Examples
I am a mum to 4 neurodivergent children. I am a School Social Worker & Primary School Teacher. My own lived experience as a parent have helped me develop a deep understanding & compassion for families parenting Demand Sensitive Children.
Navigating School Refusal/Can't Course for Parents & Carers of Neurodivergent & Anxious Children, CB Daily Activity - Improved Daily Living Skills - Training for Carers/Parents, Item number: 15_038_0117_1_3, Over 4 hours @$77 per hour
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You will learn:
MODULE 1
UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL REFUSAL AND SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE
The School Reconnection Pathway - we explore Safety First, Tune In, Adjusting Expectations.
Understand what school refusal really is - and why your child isn’t choosing this.
Shift from fear, blame, and overwhelm to compassion and clarity.
Learn how the nervous system drives school distress.
Gain comfort and insight through Lisa’s lived experience raising neurodivergent children.
Feel less alone and more hopeful about the path forward.
MODULE 2
APPLYING THIS KNOWLEDGE TO YOUR OWN FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE OF SCHOOLING
The School Reconnection Pathway - we explore Tune In & Adjust Expectations.
Connect what you’ve learned to your child’s unique school experience.
Identify why school is challenging for your child.
Discover ways to build your child’s confidence and motivation, helping them feel safer and more settled at school.
Understand what you can control and spot signs of burnout.
Hear from a young adult reflecting on their childhood experience of school can’t, offering hope, perspective, and reassurance that a positive future is possible.
MODULE 3
UNDERSTANDING PARENTS’ DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES
The School Reconnection Pathway - we explore Safety First, Tune In, Adjust Expectations, Little Steps Forward (Rebuild).
Acknowledges how hard it is when parents see the same struggle differently.
Explores the good intentions behind each parent’s response - even when it feels misaligned.
Gently uncovers what keeps parents from moving forward together.
Introduces the WINS approach to support shared understanding and calmer decision-making.
Strengthens trust and connection with your child and between co-parents.
Supports you to move toward a shared plan, reducing conflict and overwhelm.
MODULE 4
WORKING WITH SCHOOL
The School Reconnection Pathway - we explore Tune In, Adjust Expectations & Re-engage
Helps you feel more confident and less intimidated when working with schools.
Draws on Lisa’s experience as a School Social Worker and Primary School Teacher to guide you step-by-step.
Supports you to understand your child’s view of their ability, confidence, and enjoyment of school.
Clearly explains reasonable adjustments and your child’s rights - so you can advocate with clarity, not conflict.
Offers practical guidance on showing up as a calm, professional parent, even when emotions are high.
Addresses what to do when the school environment itself feels unsafe or unresponsive.
Encourages working in the present, focusing on what helps now.
Includes real parent stories that offer hope and reassurance a positive future is possible.
MODULE 5
THE POWER OF PARENT’S MINDSET
The School Reconnection Pathway - we explore Tune In, Adjust Expectations, Little Steps foward (Rebuild).
Explores the hidden stressors of school that can fuel school refusal/can’t.
Acknowledges that the school can’t journey takes time, easing the pressure to rush or “fix” things.
Supports you to maintain a steady, compassionate mindset through uncertainty.
Reinforces the truth that you are not alone on this path.
Reframes comparison, helping you notice progress in meaningful, realistic ways.
Introduces the Wellbeing Wheel and key indicators to gently track your child’s growth.
Guides you to shift the meaning of the journey - focusing on what you can influence.
Focuses on the power of your relationship, your responses, and your child’s environment.
Concludes with reflective takeaways to help you move forward with clarity and hope.
INCLUSIONS
Handouts for each Module.
A List of Reasonable Adjustments (12 Page Document) to suggest to school.
Interviews and Reflections from others with lived experience of School Can’t.
Action tasks designed to further explore your own personal situation.
Assessment Tool of your child’s perception of their Success & Enjoyment of School.
Well-being Wheel Tool to determine your child’s capacity, competence, advocacy & connectionedness to school.
Session 1 – 5 are between 45 minutes & 1 hour in duration.
Ready to understand more about school refusal or school can’t?
Navigating School Refusal/Can't Course for Parents & Carers of Neurodivergent & Anxious Children, CB Daily Activity - Improved Daily Living Skills - Training for Carers/Parents, Item number: 15_038_0117_1_3, Over 4 hours @$77 per hour
