School Anxiety Support

An online course empowering parents to confidently navigate school-based anxiety, developed by an educational psychologist.

Are you the parent of a child who is worried about going to school?

If you're here, you might already be feeling exhausted, stuck, and unsure what to do next.

Maybe your child is anxious every morning - or refusing to go to school altogether.
Maybe no one else seems to really get how bad things have become.
Without the right support, it's easy to feel like everything's spiralling:
- Your child's anxiety keeps growing, and learning just isn't happening.
- Morning feel like a battleground, filled with stress and tears.
- You're not sure why school is so hard for them - or how to explain it to others.
- You don't know what support to ask for, or how to get school on board.
- You might feel like teachers aren't listening, or that you're being blamed instead of supported.
- You could be feeling isolated, judged and totally overwhelmed.
- And for some families, this might even mean giving up work to stay at home with your child.

You're not alone - and you're not doing anything wrong. You deserve support that actually helps, and a plan that brings back some calm and clarity to your life.

That's exactly what School Anxiety Support is here to offer.

It's probably one of the toughest things you and your family have ever faced, but when you need it most, support is hard to find.

Waiting lists to see mental health professionals are long.
Local Authority educational psychologists are having to focus on statutory assessments so have limited capacity to offer early or long-term interventions.
Private educational psychology assessments are expensive and usually don't provide on-going support.
Different on-line social media communities can recommend conflicting approaches, and it can be hard to work out which advice is most relevant to your child.

Learn to Navigate your Child's School Anxiety with Confidence

Join School Anxiety Support, an online course for parents developed by Nicky Odgers, educational psychologist.

With expert guidance and a supportive community you'll be empowered to meet the challenges you and your child face when dealing with their worries about school.

Imagine feeling calm, clear and supported - even on the tough days.

When you join School Anxiety Support, you're not just getting information - you're getting guidance, reassurance and a clear step-by-step path to help you tackle what's really going on.

Feel more confident, empowered and informed about how to support your child.
Understand why school feels so overwhelming - so it starts to make sense.
Get a clearer picture of what your child is really experiencing, even if they masks their feelings at school or find it hard to talk about what's wrong.Know exactly what support to ask for - and how to advocate for it clearly.
Learn how to work with school staff, even if things have been difficult up to now.
Plan productive, respectful conversations with teachers so everyone's pulling in the same direction.
Set realistic, compassionate goals - based on your child's need, not other's expectation.
Feel reassured that you're making the best possible decisions for your child - even if others don't fully understand.
Connect with a supportive community of parents who truly get it.
Get expert advice from a qualified educational psychologist.

You're not alone in this - and you don't have to figure it out by yourself any more.

Age Range

This course is mainly designed for parents of children aged between about 8 and 14. But if your child is older or younger than this, lots will still be relevant.

What You’ll Get When You Join the School Anxiety Support Online Course

Feeling unsure how to help your child with school anxiety? This course is here to guide you—step by step.

Here’s what’s included:

7 practical modules that walk you through everything you need to know to support your child with confidence.
Short, easy-to-watch videos—most are under 5 minutes, perfect for busy parents
Downloadable tools and handouts to help you put ideas into action straight away
12-month access to all course materials so you can revisit them whenever you need
Private Facebook community to connect with other parents who truly get what you're going through
Expert guidance from a qualified educational psychologist who understands the challenges and what works

This isn’t just information—it’s support, strategies, and connection.

Topics covered

Module 1 - Understanding School Based Anxiety

What causes school-based anxiety.
The School Anxiety Support approach.
The process of supporting a child with school-based anxiety.
Why neurodiverse children can find school so overwhelming.
9 videos lasting 36 minutes

Module 2 - Unpicking the issues

You'll discover how to unpick why your child is struggling with school because this is the first step in identifying appropriate support.
Tools and techniques to help your child share their views about why school is hard, even if they usually find it hard to talk about their worries.
Tools you and staff can use to use to identify contributing factors.
9 videos lasting 49 minutes.

Module 3 - Working with the school

Why the relationship between schools and parents can sometimes go so wrong.
What might help staff to properly understand your child's point of view
How to plan difficult conversations with staff in advance.
Government guidance on what schools should be doing when a child's worries impact on their attendance.
8 videos lasting 27 minutes.

Module 4 - How to make the school environment less stressful.

Why children sometimes have very good reasons for not liking school or finding school hard.
Why helping children to manage their anxiety is generally not enough.
The kind of support schools can put in place that may make the school environment less stressful.
How schools could create safety, connection and a sense of belonging for your child.
10 videos lasting 27 minutes.

Module 5 - Worries and how to cope with them.

The hot-cross model of anxiety.
RULER - A framework for teaching children how to manage their emotions.
How to support a young person in meltdown or shutdown.
How to help your child face their fears at a pace that feels manageable to them.
How schools can help your child develop skills in emotional regulation.
23 videos lasting 75 minutes.

Module 6 - Building personal resources

How to help your child build their personal resources so they are better equipped to cope with the challenges they face. It covers:
- Autistic burnout.
- Energy management.
- Understanding your sensory profile.
- Friendships and social understanding including how to write social stories.
- Building self-esteem.
15 videos lasting 67 minutes.

Module 7 - Goals, dilemmas and you.

Setting realistic goals.
Tricky dilemmas, such as how much to push your child to face their fears or whether to take them out of school.
Supporting parental well-being.
How to cope with long-term stress.
6 videos lasting 24 minutes.

How do I know if this is the right programme for me and my child?

This course is for you if...

Your child is anxious about school—whether they’re still attending or not.
Their worries might be linked to autism, ADHD, or another additional need—even if they don’t have a diagnosis yet.
Your child isn’t neurodiverse, but school still feels like a struggle.
You feel isolated, like no one else at the school gate is going through this.
You’re stuck, unsure what to try next—or who to turn to.
You want to understand what’s really behind your child’s school anxiety, not just manage the symptoms.
You’d love clear, practical ideas about how you and school staff can work together to help.
You want to feel like you and the school are finally on the same page.
You’d value being part of a kind, understanding online community where no one judges.
Most of all—you’re hoping for some relief, clarity, and hope that things can get better.

If that sounds like you, you're in the right place—and you're not alone anymore.

This course might not be the right fit if…

You’re mainly looking for help with navigating the SEND system—like applying for an EHCP, going to tribunal, or seeking EOTAS.
Your child is experiencing more complex mental health difficulties that go beyond school-related anxiety—in that case, you may need more specialist support.

If you're unsure whether this course is the right fit for your situation, feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to help point you in the right direction.

With over 10 years of experience as an educational psychologist, I worked with lots of children, schools and families to get to the bottom of why school feels so hard and to figure out the kind of support that actually helps.

Most of the children I work with are autistic or have ADHD, often with other challenges like difficulties with writing or emotional regulation.
I’ve also supported schools through training, led a multi-professional team creating Local Authority guidance on Emotionally Based School Avoidance, and developed ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) training to help children manage emotions, build friendships, boost self-esteem, and cope with big things like bereavement and loss.
This course brings together everything I’ve learned—so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

6 simple steps to support your family's journey through school-based anxiety.

1 Enrol on the course

Kickstart your empowerment journey.

2 Check out the course hub

Here you'll find all the course videos, tools and practical resources organised into 7 modules.

3 Join the private Facebook group.

Chat to others who are going through the same thing.

4 Watch the videos whenever you want.

Gain expert insights and practical tools.

5 Take action

Use practical resources and strategies discussed in meet-ups to make real change.

6 12 months access

You'll have access to videos, practical resources and the Facebook group for 12 months from signing up.

School Anxiety Support only opens a few times each year - and I've love for you to be part of it!

Register your interest and I’ll make sure you’re the first to know when doors open again for new parents. That way, you won’t miss your chance to join us.

You don't need to navigate school-based anxiety alone.

You can find the support you need through School Anxiety Support.

As a parent of a child with school-based anxiety, you may feel overwhelmed by the challenges you and your child face. You may struggle with feelings of isolation and uncertainty, unsure of how best to support your child.

At Odgers Psychology, we believe you shouldn't have to navigate this journey alone. Our expert-led online course empowers parents like you with the tools and knowledge vital for understanding and supporting your child with their worries.

By joining the course, you'll gain access to invaluable resources, a supportive community and practical strategies that empower you to advocate for your child. You'll feel reassured that you are making informed decisions and identifying realistic goals based on where your child is at, not where others think they should be.

Additional resources that may help.

Is your child struggling with school anxiety?

Download my free guide with practical strategies to help your child feel more supported. It includes tips on:

what to talk about with your child.
working with the school .
how to turn those tough mornings around.
plus where to get additional advice and support.

Send me the free guide!