Not Fine in School: Outcomes in adult life after experiencing school attendance difficulties during childhood
This survey aims to gather information about the longer term outcomes for people who experienced difficulties attending school during their childhood.

It is commonly implied that children and young people who miss time at mainstream school will experience less success, and may struggle to cope with aspects of life in adulthood. It is stated that people may experience difficulty socialising, difficulty getting or holding down a job, and they may have ongoing problems with their mental health.

It is hoped that the information gathered through this survey will offer evidence indicating whether these narratives are accurate, or not so accurate.

We may also identify which forms of support are most helpful, which interventions are less helpful in the longer-term, or which approaches lead to the most successful longer-term outcomes.

We will publish the findings on our website - https://notfineinschool.co.uk


Completing the survey:
  • All participation is anonymous
  • The first section asks some demographic questions
  • The second section asks questions about your school attendance difficulties
  • The third section ask questions about your experiences as an adult
  • The questions have been framed around education systems in the UK
  • You will be able to edit your responses after you have submitted them
  • You can ignore any questions you do not want to answer, or feel unable to answer

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Section One: Demographic Questions
1a. Which age range do you CURRENTLY fit within?
1b. What was your sex assigned at birth?
1c. Is your gender identity the same as the sex you were assigned at birth?
1d. What is your ethnic group?
If you answered 'Other' please say how you describe yourself
1e. Which was your main country of residence during childhood?
If you answered 'Other' please say which country was your main country of residence during childhood
1f. Looking back, would you have identified as a member of any of the following marginalised groups DURING CHILDHOOD?
If you answered 'Other' please say which marginalised group you would have identified with as a child
1g. What was your position within your family?
If you answered 'Other' please describe your position within your family
1h. How many schools or educational settings did you attend (or you were on roll and you tried to attend) between the ages of 5 and 16?
If you answered 'Other' please state how you would quantify the number of settings you attended
Section Two: Your Experiences at School
NOTE: Defining 'School Attendance Difficulties'
When referring to 'school attendance difficulties' we include the reasons why you struggled with attending school; the problems you experienced as a result; and the ways people around you responded both to your absences from school, and those underlying reasons and problems.

2a. At which stage of your childhood or education did your school attendance difficulties begin?
2b. Roughly how long did your school attendance difficulties continue for?
2c. How closely do the following statements describe your experience of school attendance difficulties?
A significant part of my experience
A minor part of my experience
Not relevant
I 'masked' or hid my difficulties from other people
I only told a few people about my difficulties
When I told adults how I felt some said I would be 'fine' once I went to school
When I told adults how I felt some said I didn't have a choice, as children have to go to school
Teachers did not believe my parent / carer when they said I was struggling to attend
Some adults seemed to think I was choosing not to go
If I got upset in school some of the adults tried to help me
If I got upset at school some of the adults ignored me
If I got upset at school some of the adults told me off
Some adults seemed to think I was behaving badly rather than struggling
Some adults seemed to understand why I struggled at school
Some adults seemed to feel angry about my attendance difficulties
Some children seemed to feel angry with me
Some children tried to comfort me
I saw other children at school who struggled like me
I felt as if I was the only one at school who struggled
I thought other children laughed at me because I found it difficult to go to school
I attended school but had lots of days off
I attended school most of the time as no-one realised how much I was struggling
I struggled to sleep at night as I worried about school
Getting ready for school in the morning was difficult
Leaving my home to go to school was really hard
The journey to school was difficult
I was late for school because of my difficulties
I would make it to school but could not enter the building/grounds
I would pretend to go to school but I would hide somewhere away from school
I would attend but then hide somewhere inside school to avoid certain lessons
I was ok once I was inside the school building
I would make myself attend, as I wanted to be at school
I missed my friends when I couldn't go to school
Ongoing illness prevented me from attending
One day I just found I was unable to go to school anymore
I had enjoyed school until something bad happened
I was prevented from attending by my parent or carer
My education was important to me
I didn't see any point in going to school
I preferred to stay at home to do things I enjoyed
I worried that something bad would happen at home while I was at school
I felt scared at school
I felt anxious at school
I felt stupid or worthless at school
I found it hard to concentrate at school
I couldn't be bothered to go to school
I hated being at school
I found school boring
I felt ashamed of my attendance difficulties
I felt guilty about the impact on my family
As a child I could not explain why I struggled to go to school
I now have a better understanding following diagnoses I have received as an adult
I now have a better understanding since I needed to support my own child/children
I still do not understand why I found being at school so hard
My school attendance difficulties improved once I was in an educational setting that suited me
My school attendance difficulties improved once I was offered the help I needed
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' please state how you would describe your school attendance difficulties
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 2c please do so here
2d. What do you think caused, triggered, or contributed to your school attendance difficulties?
A significant influence
A minor influence
Not sure
Not relevant
Physical Health Difficulties
Mental Health Difficulties
Puberty related difficulties
Secondary school expectations / environment
SEND (Identified / Supported)
SEND (Identified / Unsupported
SEND (Unrecognised)
Being Neurodivergent (diagnosed)
Being Neurodivergent (undiagnosed)
Adults in school calling me things like 'silly' or 'naughty'
Bullying by peers
Bullying by adults
Social anxiety
Loneliness
Separation anxiety
Peer pressure / conflict
Disaffection with the school curriculum
Disaffection with mainstream schooling
Personal difficulties/dilemmas (i.e. gender identity)
Academic pressure & expectation
Anxiety about all tests / exams
Year 6 SATS (or equivalent)
Sitting 11+ exams (or equivalent)
Avoiding specific lessons / subjects
Avoiding specific teachers/staff
School climate / ethos - I didn't fit in / feel like I belonged
School behaviour policies & discipline
School uniform related discomfort
Crowded spaces in school
Break times / Lunch times
Eating food at school
Noise levels in school
Odours in school
The lighting in school
The temperature in classrooms
Busy, colourful classroom displays
Concerns about germs, viruses, or dirt
Feeling trapped in school
Feeling unsafe in school
Feeling bored & frustrated in school
Feeling different to my peers because I needed help in school
Lack of time to focus on interests / finish work
Struggling to follow instructions in the classroom
Needing to sit down / stay still for long periods of time
Fear of unexpected changes during the school day
Fear of reading aloud / public speaking
Completing work in lessons
Understanding homework
Completing homework at home
Organising yourself / having the right equipment
Navigating around the school / getting lost
Being ignored by teachers / school staff
The journey to & / or from school
Home or family related problems
Poverty / Money related issues
Caring responsibilities at home
Preferring to be at home
Getting up in the mornings / needing sleep
A traumatic experience in school
A traumatic experience at home
The death of someone close to me
Cultural differences between home & school
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' please state what you think caused, triggered, or contributed to your school attendance difficulties
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 2d please do so here
3a. Which approach/es or interventions did you experience in response to your school attendance difficulties, and how helpful were they?
Yes - it was helpful
Yes - but it was unhelpful
No experience of this
My parents / carers tried to arrange help for me
School arranged the extra help I needed
I had a reduced / part-time timetable
I had help provided through CAMHS
I was physically forced to keep attending school (e.g. being carried, pulled or restrained)
I was emotionally forced to keep attending (e.g. threats of fines or prison for parents)
I gained a Statement or EHCP for a mainstream school
I gained a Statement or EHCP for a SEND school
I gained a Statement or EHCP for alternative provision / EOTAS
I gained a Statement or EHCP for elective home education
I had home tutors provided by the LA
I had home tutors funded by my family
I went to a hospital school
I went to a Pupil Referral Unit
I was sent to a boarding school
I moved to a different mainstream school
I was deregistered and home educated
I was deregistered and learned through a self-directed learning approach
I was deregistered and taught through private / online provision
My parents/carers were fined
My parent / carer was taken to court
My parent / carer was sent to prison
My parent / carer was accused of MbP/FII
Social services monitored my family
I was put into care by social services
I was prescribed medication that helped me
I had help provided through a charitable organisation
I had help from a private therapist
I had friends who helped me
Members of my family supported me
I found support online
I developed my own coping strategies
I did not receive any help or support
I was suspended from school
I was expelled from school
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' please state what happened
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 3a please do so here
3b. If you had a Statement or EHCP do you think the progress and outcomes you have achieved have happened BECAUSE of the support provided, or DESPITE the support provided?
If you would like to say more about how you think your Statement or EHCP has impacted upon your progress and your longer-term achievements, please do so here (if applicable)
3c. How did the people around you respond to your school attendance difficulties - was their response helpful or unhelpful?
Very helpful
Helpful
Neither helpful or unhelpful
Unhelpful
Very unhelpful
N/A
Parent / carer (most involved)
Parent / carer (less or equally involved)
Sibling /s
Grandparents
Other family members
Peer group
A close / best friend
A girlfriend / boyfriend
An online friend / group / contact
A family friend
A teacher (most involved)
A teacher (less or equally involved)
Other school staff member (e.g. Teaching Assistant)
SENCo
Headteacher
GP
Mental health service staff member
Educational Psychologist
Therapist (NHS)
Therapist (Private)
Charity support worker
Local Authority SEND support worker
Education Welfare Officer (or equivalent)
Social Worker
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' please state who helped you, or who was unhelpful
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 3c please do so here
3d.  With the use of hindsight, what help do you wish you had been offered during the time you were enrolled at school and struggled to attend?
Section Three: Navigating Adult Life
4. As an adult, have you experienced difficulties attending any of the following ?
Yes - significant difficulties
Yes - minor difficulties
No difficulties
College / Further education
University
Employment / places of work
Training or team-building events
Homes of close family or friends
Social gatherings (i.e. parties, weddings)
Supermarkets /shopping centres
Eating out (i.e. pubs, restaurants, cafes)
Entertainment venues (i.e. cinema, theatre)
Sports venues / Leisure centres
Holiday venues / resorts
Crowded or noisy places in general
Anywhere unfamiliar
Another environment
Clear selection
If you answered 'Another environment' please state where you have experienced difficulties
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 4 please do so here
5a. Which Level/s of qualification have you achieved, and at what age did you achieve them?
Yes - at school / before I was 17
Yes - between 17 and 22
Yes - when I was over 22
Entry Level (1, 2, or 3)
Level 1 (eg: GCSE grades 3, 2, 1 / D, E, F, G)
Level 2 (eg: GCSE grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 / A*, A, B, C
Level 3 (eg: A level or Level 3 diploma)
Level 4 (eg: Cert HE or higher apprenticeship)
Level 5 (eg: DipHE or Foundation degree)
Level 6 (eg: BA or BSc (Hons)
Level 7 (eg: MA or MSc)
Level 8 (eg: Doctorate)
Other
Clear selection
5b. What type of setting or provision supported you to study for your qualifications?
If you answered 'Other' to questions 5a / 5b please state what form of qualification you have achieved and where/how you studied for them
6a. Have you experienced any difficulties in any of the following aspects of adult life?
Yes - significant difficulties
Yes - minor difficulties
No difficulties
Not applicable
Getting a job
Holding down a job
Making progress in your career
Studying in further or higher education
Your mental health and wellbeing
Self-confidence/Self-esteem
Physical health and wellbeing
Family relationships
Friendships and socialising
Having a close relationship / marriage /partnership
Being a parent
Living independently
Managing money & finance
Organising yourself / Executive functioning
Travel during day-to-day activities
Holidays
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' to question 6a please state what difficulties you have experienced in adult life
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 6a please do so here
6b. If you have experienced difficulties listed in Question 6a do you think they are linked to any of the following factors?
Yes
No
Maybe
The time you missed at school
Your general school-based experience
A lack of O'Levels / GCSEs gained at school
The lack of support for the issues that triggered your absence from school
The ways professionals responded to your attendance difficulties
The ways friends responded to your attendance difficulties
The ways family responded to your attendance difficulties
Any SEND you have / had
Being neurodivergent
Any bullying you experienced
Any school-based social contact you missed
Childhood physical Illness
Childhood mental illness
Ongoing / new physical health issues
Ongoing / new mental health issues
Home or family-based issues in childhood
Childhood trauma (e.g. a death in the family)
Trauma experienced as an adult
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' to question 6b please state what you think has influenced your difficulties
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 6b please do so here
6c. Have you experienced difficulties or trouble in any of the following ways?
Yes
No
Being fired from employment
Redundancy from employment
Being estranged / alienated from family
Being in debt, insolvency or bankruptcy
Drug use / addiction
Alcohol use / addiction
Self-harming behaviours
Suicidal Thoughts
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Autistic burnout
Being sectioned for mental health difficulties
Criminal activity
A police caution
Legal action against me
Time in prison
Time in juvenile detention
Other
Clear selection
- If you answered 'Other' to question 6c please state what type of difficulty or trouble you have experienced
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 6c please do so here
6d. Overall, would you say your school attendance difficulties have had a NEGATIVE IMPACT upon your adult life, so far?
7a. Have you experienced any POSITIVE achievements or outcomes in the following aspects of adult life, so far?
Yes, significant achievements
Yes, minor achievements
I am making progress
Not applicable
Career (in employment)
Career (in self-employment)
Fulfilling personal ambitions
Following personal interests
Creative and artistic activities
Sporting activities
Leisure activities
Voluntary or Charity work
Political / Social Justice related activity
Educational & Academic activity
Financial success / security
Personal Relationships
Other
Clear selection
If you answered 'Other' to question 7a please state in what aspect of adult life you have achieved a positive outcome
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 7a please do so here
7b. What is the thing you have done or achieved that you are most proud of in your life so far?
7c. How happy would you say you are as an adult?
Very happy
Very unhappy
Clear selection
8a. As an adult, do you now suspect or know you are neurodivergent, or have additional needs that were not identified during your childhood/time at school?
8b. If you have self-identified, or received a diagnosis / diagnoses, what is recognised?
Yes - diagnosed (NHS)
Yes - diagnosed (privately)
Yes - self-identified
Autism
PDA (Pathological demand avoidance)
ADHD
Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dyspraxia
Dysgraphia
OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
Tourette's Syndrome
Epilepsy
Hyperlexia
Synesthesia
Irlen Syndrome
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Sensory Processing DIsorder
Eating Disorders
Hypermobility
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes
POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia)
ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Long Covid
Other
If you answered 'Other' to question 8b please state the diagnosis you have gained
If you would like to provide more detail about your responses to question 8b please do so here
8c. If you have gained the recognition, or right diagnoses and support AS AN ADULT what difference has it made to your life?
If you would like to provide more detail about your answer to question 8c please do so here
9a. If you have children have they also experienced difficulties with school attendance?
9b. If you have a child or children experiencing school attendance difficulties are their difficulties similar to your own?
If you want to provide more detail about your answer to question 9b please do so here.
9c. If you have any children experiencing difficulties attending school do you think your own experiences have helped or hindered you to support them?
9d. In what ways have your experiences helped or hindered you in being able to support your own children (if applicable)
9e. What advice would you now offer to a parent if their child is experiencing school attendance difficulties?
10. Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience of school attendance difficulties, or how your life has developed since they happened?
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