'It was damaging him': the spiralling number of children refusing to go to school

Support service cuts and school pressure are increasing anxiety, campaigners believe. But could lockdown point to a way forward? For Jen Smith, the autumn term started, as always, with the prospect of managing the delicate process of her children's school attendance. Both autistic, they were in mainstream classes until two years ago; now in specialist provision, they still faced deep-seated anxiety about school. "My son's anxiety began when he needed a disabled toilet key at school, but in the t...