Why is school so hard for my child? 

Download your free School Anxiety Checklist

When a child struggles with school, it can be hard to know what’s really going on. Worries, overwhelm, behaviour changes, or refusal to attend usually have more than one cause.

This checklist helps you gently explore which factors may be affecting your child so you can stop guessing and start seeing the pattern.

Download the checklist to:

✅ Get a clearer picture of why school feels so hard for your child

✅ Spot where your child may need extra support at home and in school

✅ Feel more confident about what to raise with school staff and professionals

✨ Start to make sense of what’s driving your child’s school‑based worries.

This checklist can be used by parents and by professionals supporting families, such as SENCOs, ELSAs, and teachers.

Written by an experienced educational psychologist. 

I’m Nicky Odgers, an independent educational psychologist based in Cambridge, UK. I’ve spent more than 10 years working with children, schools, and families to support children who are finding school hard.