If you have been away from school for a long time — because of anxiety, fear of leaving the house, or a stay in hospital — this is for you. There is no rush. You go at your pace.
Away from school for a long time? Anxiety, fear, or hospital? This is for you. No rush. Your pace.
Away from school? Anxiety or hospital? Your pace.
Your pace. No rush.
The Rules for Everyone
The Rules for Everyone
The Rules for Everyone
Rules for All
No matter why you were away, these rules should happen for you. They are not a reward. They are what keeps you safe.
These happen for everyone. Not a reward. What keeps you safe.
These happen for all. Keeps you safe.
These keep you safe.
The first week is just about showing up. No schoolwork. No tests.First week: just show up. No work. No tests.First week: show up. No work.First week: just show up.
You get a simple picture timetable two days before anything changes. No surprises.Picture timetable two days before changes. No surprises.Picture timetable. Two days before. No surprises.Timetable early. No surprises.
There is a quiet room you can go to at any time. You do not have to ask.Quiet room. Go any time. Do not ask.Quiet room. Go any time.Quiet room anytime.
One trusted staff member checks in with you quietly every day.One trusted staff member. Quiet check-in each day.One trusted staff. Quiet check-in daily.One trusted person daily.
You have a card you can put on your desk to leave any room right away. You do not have to explain.Card on desk to leave any room. No explaining.Card to leave. No explaining.Card to leave. No explaining.
After Anxiety, Fear, or Not Leaving the House
After Anxiety, Fear, or Not Leaving the House
After Anxiety, Fear, or Not Leaving the House
After Anxiety
When you have been at home for a long time because school or going out felt too scary, the building itself feels unsafe. The goal is to build trust with the space slowly.
Home for a long time? Building feels unsafe. Build trust slowly.
Building feels unsafe. Trust slowly.
Build trust slowly.
Start small. Walk to the school gates when the school is empty. Then try one empty classroom.Start small. Gates when empty. Then one empty room.Start small. Empty gates. Empty room.Start small. Empty school.
Arrive twenty minutes after everyone else. Leave twenty minutes before the bell. No crowded corridors.Arrive late. Leave early. No crowds.Arrive late. Leave early. No crowds.No crowded corridors.
You can wear sunglasses, a hat, or noise-cancelling headphones on the way in and in the building.Sunglasses, hat, headphones. In the building.Sunglasses, hat, headphones.Wear what helps.
Teachers should not say welcome back or draw attention to you in front of the class.No welcome back. No attention in class.No attention in class.No attention in class.
You can eat in a quiet room or the library instead of the noisy canteen.Eat in quiet room. Not the canteen.Eat in quiet room.Eat somewhere quiet.
If the uniform makes your anxiety or senses worse, it can be changed.Uniform worse? It can change.Uniform worse? Can change.Uniform can change.
After a Hospital Stay or Illness
After a Hospital Stay or Illness
After a Hospital Stay or Illness
After Hospital
When you have been in hospital or ill, your body is tired and your stamina is low. The goal is to go slowly and not push your body.
Hospital or ill? Body tired. Go slowly.
Hospital? Body tired. Go slow.
Go slowly. Rest.
Rest breaks are built into your day, in a quiet room, even if you say you feel fine.Rest breaks built in. Even if you feel fine.Rest breaks. Even if fine.Rest breaks daily.
You might start with just one or two hours a day. That is enough. You build up over weeks.Start one or two hours. Build up over weeks.Start one hour. Build up.Start small. Build up.
You get two sets of books — one at home, one at school. No heavy bag.Two sets of books. No heavy bag.Two book sets. No heavy bag.No heavy bag.
Medication and checks happen in private. Other students do not see.Medication in private. Others do not see.Medication private.Medication private.
Your work is cut down to the essentials. You do not have to catch up on months of missed homework.Work cut to essentials. No months of catch-up.Essentials only. No catch-up.Essentials only.