Define Fine: Parent Peer Support for School Attendance Difficulties

About

This is an independent service, which is not run by the NHS or WSCC.

This service is not checked by WSCC and including it on the Local Offer website does not mean that it is a recommended service.

Before using this service, we recommend you make your own checks. Your checks should include being happy that: the service will meet your needs; staff are properly qualified; policies are in place to keep everyone safe and you know how much the service will cost.

Use this guidance for advice about what to ask to help you make sure that children and young people are happy and protected in clubs, groups and activities. Find out more on our terms and disclaimer.

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Define Fine has been created by a small, committed team of parents and professionals who have lived experience of school attendance difficulties.

We are a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who experience school attendance difficulties. This is sometimes referred to as 'school refusal', or emotionally based school avoidance and may be due to unmet Special Educational Needs and Disabilities including physical or mental illness.

What we do

• We provide peer support, using our tried and tested resources and to help parents advocate for the support their children and young people need to be able to learn and achieve.
• We run regular online webinars and workshops to share effective methods of advocacy and requests for support, and work closely with other SEND support groups.
• We are building up a growing network of parent peer supporters, who we train and support to use our guides to enable them to communicate with professionals and request the necessary support to improve attendance.

Age range

4-18

Wheelchair accessible

Yes

Free to use

Yes

Our users say

The support and advice given by the Define Fine team is amazing, they just get it. The Facebook page lets me talk to other families who are going through the same as me, it is a great place to share ideas and get pointers from other parents.