Reasons why you might not be in school

You might miss school because you are off sick or injured. Depending on the reason, this could be for a short time or longer term. If you are well enough to continue learning while you’re at home or in hospital, then your school should give you learning resources and support.

Sometimes people avoid going to school if they feel anxious about attending. This might be because of relationships at school, school work, or changes to your routine that make you feel unsettled. If you feel anxious about school, it’s important to know that lots of support is available.

You might miss school if you’re caring for someone at home who needs you to be there. This could be a family member who requires your help because they have an illness, disability, mental health problem or an addiction. This is called being a young carer. There are lots of organisations who can support you if you are a young carer.

You might miss school if you are a part of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. One of the traditions within this community is Nomadism, which a way of life where people move around and tend not to stay in one location.

Alternatively, it may be that your move around if you have a family member who is in the armed forces. They could have been deployed somewhere else, either temporarily or permanently which also impacts on where you live.

Another reason that you could miss school is if you have been excluded. This is when you are sent home from school and are not allowed to go back for a set amount of time. Find out more about exclusion and your rights if you have been excluded here.