Scarlett came to Dandelion Time with very low self-esteem, having shared that she ‘hated’ school and was struggling with suicidal thoughts. She believed that her teachers and peers disliked her, which led her to isolate herself and eventually refuse to go to school altogether, finding comfort and safety only at home.

Over the course of her sessions at Dandelion Time, Scarlett began to embrace new activities and persevered as her sense of self-worth gradually grew. As her confidence developed, she started to join in group activities, reintegrating with the other children and families.

Scarlett’s anxiety about going to school became so intense she often had urges to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Considered a ‘high risk’ student, she had not been allowed to spend time outdoors during the school day, she became withdrawn and stopped going to school entirely. Instead, she would spend most of her days playing computer games on her own.

When Scarlett and her mum first came to Dandelion Time, she would tell us that she was ‘rubbish at everything’, her self-doubt holding her back from trying new things. Recognising the need for Scarlett to feel valued, Scarlett’s Dandelion Time caseworker, Ella, would provide jobs for her to do. From sieving compost to planting seeds, grooming the donkeys to feeding the alpacas, and pushing the trolley of firewood down to the woodland campfire. All jobs that gave Scarlett a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

As her self-worth grew, they introduced more complex activities like woodwork, lighting a campfire with a flint and steel, and helping to cook.
And Scarlett persevered, not giving up at the first
hurdle. She spent one session completely absorbed in felting saying it was her favourite activity.

In her final sessions, Scarlett joined in group activities without encouragement too, feeling confident to work with others without fear of being judged. Since attending Dandelion Time, Scarlett is now able to attend school on a part time basis, her mum feels more confident to discuss Scarlett’s needs and her reintegration to school, agreeing a modified timetable that better suits her needs.

In her final sessions, Scarlett joined in group activities without encouragement too, feeling confident to work with others without fear of being judged. Since attending Dandelion Time, Scarlett is now able to attend school on a part time basis, her mum feels more confident to discuss Scarlett’s needs and her reintegration to school, agreeing a modified timetable that better suits her needs.

“This is the best thing we have done as a family, I can’t recommend it enough.”

School refusal has increased in recent years, with a sharp rise following the COVID pandemic. The latest school census statistics* show that over 20% of pupils were persistently absent in the 2023/24 school year, with 2.3%, or 171,000, absent for over half of the school year.

There are many reasons for school absence, but Scarlett’s story is sadly not uncommon. In the same year, 41% of children attending Dandelion Time were refusing to go to school.

Please help us transform the lives of more children like Scarlett and donate today!

*Department of Education – Statistics: pupil attendance and absence – GOV.UK

This is a composite case that is indicative of our work, names and images have been changed.