Skip to main content

Define Fine: Parent Peer Support for School Attendance Difficulties

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, either suspected or diagnosed, bullying or issues relating to academic pressure, or even the school environment. 

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 hope to build up our growing network of peer supporters, who we can train to use our guides for their own family and ultimately to then help other families experiencing attendance difficulties.  We provide 1:1 help for parents and carers who need help and support. 

Empowering parents to be able to effectively work with professionals, should encourage not only earlier intervention, with much better outcomes, but also reduce the risk and impact of unhelpful, and unnecessary attendance prosecutions and social services  safeguarding interventions. It is vital that children, young people and their families receive appropriate support, and especially in cases where professionals insist children are “fine in school, “ all are clear as to how fine is actually defined. 

For us “fine in school” would mean that children are safe, healthy, happy and their needs are acknowledged and supported to able to access suitable education and learn. 

Age Range(s)

  • 5 - 18

Who to contact

Contact Name
Louise Parker Engels
Contact Position
Director
Telephone
Email
contactus@definefine.org.uk
Website
Define Fine website

Where to go

Name
Bluebell House
Address
Main Street
Gumley
Leicestershire
Postcode
LE16 7RU
Notes

Define Fine can offer help online and nationally

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday to Sunday
Time of day
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Session Information
Online resource

Availability

Referral required
No