When your child is struggling at school, it can be difficult to know what’s going wrong or how to help. Whether they’re falling behind in classwork, showing frustration with homework, or feeling anxious about school, you’re not alone. Many children and young people experience learning or mental health challenges at some stage – and there are clear, practical steps that parents and carers can take to support them.
Below, we explain how to help your child when they’re finding it difficult to attend school, keep up with lessons, or manage the pressures of learning.
Contents
- Understanding Why Your Child Is Struggling in School
- Getting Support From Your Child’s School
- Supporting Your Child at Home
- Navigating Formal Support Systems and Next Steps
- How The Profs Can Help Your Child
If you’re feeling unsure about what to do next, The Profs can guide you. Our award-winning network of qualified Tutors and 1:1 education specialists provides personalised support for children with a wide range of academic and emotional needs, at every academic level. Our results have continued to strengthen: most recently, 92%* of our surveyed students achieved a grade improvement, and over 90%* of our university applicants gained places at one of their top two choices.
*Based on respondents to The Profs Client Feedback Survey 2025
1. Understanding Why Your Child Is Struggling in School
There are many reasons why a child is struggling in school, and identifying the root cause is the first step towards finding the right support.
Look for signs of learning or behavioural challenges
If your child is not progressing as expected or seems disengaged from schoolwork, it could be linked to an underlying learning difficulty, such as a learning disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some children may also have autism, dyslexia, or another special educational need (SEN) that affects how they process information or behave in class.
Keep an eye out for patterns: repeated low marks, difficulty focusing, or changes in behaviour. Speak to your child’s teacher early; they observe your child daily and can share valuable insights about your child’s progress and classroom experience.
Recognise emotional and mental health factors
Academic performance is often linked to mental health. A child who is anxious or struggling with their mental health might avoid lessons, withdraw socially, or refuse to attend school altogether. School anxiety is increasingly common, especially post-pandemic, and can affect confidence and motivation.
If your child is finding it hard to return to school after absences or is feeling anxious about school, it’s important to take their feelings seriously. You might notice signs of frustration, irritability, or low self-esteem – all of which can indicate emotional strain.
Consider environmental and communication issues
Sometimes the issue lies not in ability or well-being but in the school environment. A busy classroom might overwhelm a child or young person who needs more structure, while unclear instructions could make it harder for them to understand what’s expected.
Building open communication between parents and carers, the class teacher, and the school staff helps everyone stay aligned. The goal is to make the school a place where your child feels safe, supported, and able to learn.
2. Getting Support From Your Child’s School
Schools in the UK are legally required to identify and respond to additional needs, and there are several ways to get the education and support your child needs.
Ask the school for a meeting
If you have concerns about your child’s education, start by arranging a discussion with the class teacher or head of year. Explain the challenges you’ve noticed and ask the school how they’re addressing them. This first point of contact is essential for early intervention.
Bring examples of homework, reports, or written notes that illustrate the problem. Together, you can review progress and agree on steps that you can take both at school and home to help your child feel more confident.
Speak to the SENCO or special education staff
If your child may have a special educational need, the school could refer them to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). The SENCO oversees special education provision and ensures that your child’s needs are properly assessed and met.
Under the Code of Practice for special educational needs and disabilities, every school must make reasonable efforts to ensure that needs can be met within mainstream education. Schools are expected to make reasonable adjustments for pupils who require extra help, such as modified teaching materials or additional classroom support.
If appropriate, the SENCO may initiate SEN support or develop an individual education plan (IEP) or support plan tailored to your child’s needs. These documents outline the kind of support your child will receive and how progress will be monitored.
Involve specialists when needed
When school-based support isn’t enough, a referral to external professionals can help. The school may refer your child to an educational psychologist or psychologist to assess learning, attention, or emotional factors. In some cases, your GP or school staff can refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) if your child’s mental health difficulties need professional input.
The SENCO might also request an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment if your child’s education, health, or care needs require more substantial long-term provision.
These services fall under the Equality Act 2010, which requires all schools to make reasonable adjustments and provide a place to meet those needs for people with special educational needs.
3. Supporting Your Child at Home
While schools play a major role, what happens at home can also make a huge difference in helping your child make progress and support your child emotionally.
Build routines and structure
Children and young people thrive on routine. A consistent daily schedule for schoolwork, meals, and activities your child enjoys can provide reassurance and stability. If your child is struggling at school, ensure that home becomes a calm, predictable place where they can focus without distractions.
Help your child break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate each success, however small. Regular encouragement can help your child feel motivated and less overwhelmed.
Focus on emotional wellbeing and mental health support
If your child is feeling stressed, isolated, or finding it difficult to cope, prioritise their mental health over grades. Speak openly about feelings, and let them know it’s okay to struggle. Create safe spaces for expression through drawing, journaling, or talking.
You can also reach out to local mental health support organisations, health support lines, or school counselling services. If your child is anxious or unable to go to school, contact your GP for advice. CAMHS or community mental health services can offer therapy, assessment, and guidance tailored to children and young people.
Use extra help and tutoring
If your child does not need clinical intervention but still struggles with learning, targeted tutoring can be transformative. A qualified private tutor can support children by filling knowledge gaps, rebuilding confidence, and adapting lessons to their individual needs.
At The Profs, our tutors are experts in child education and providing learning support for pupils with learning disabilities or special educational needs. Sessions can be fully customised, from teaching style to subject focus.
One-to-one tutoring ensures your child can get the focused attention that’s often missing in a busy classroom – and helps them rediscover enjoyment in learning.
Discover our:
4. Navigating Formal Support Systems and Next Steps
When informal strategies don’t resolve the issue, you may need to explore more support available through education and health systems.
Understanding the SEN process
If classroom strategies and SEN support plans aren’t improving your child’s progress, you can ask for more support through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This is part of special education law and ensures your child receives integrated provision across education, health, and social care.
An EHCP is based on detailed assessments from professionals, including educational psychologists and health specialists. The goal is to ensure your child gets the support and school provision needed to thrive.
If your child’s school or local authority resists or delays action, remember that parents have the right to ask for a meeting or appeal decisions under the Code of Practice.
Know your rights under the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 protects students with a disability or special educational need from discrimination. This means that schools must make reasonable adjustments to ensure all students can access education fairly.
For example, the school could offer extra time for exams, sensory-friendly classroom adaptations, or assistive technology. These changes help ensure that needs can be met and that no child is unable to participate fully because of their individual needs.
Schools are also required to follow the Code of Practice, which outlines how special educational provision should work for young people with special educational needs.
Find independent advice and information
If you’re unsure about your next steps, several national and local services can offer advice and support. Contact your local advice line or support service for parents and carers, such as SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service).
They can refer you to organisations that specialise in special educational needs rights, family support, and educational planning.
You can also seek advice and information from charities that support children and young people with mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, or those finding it difficult to attend school.
Working Together to Support Your Child
Helping a child who is struggling in school takes teamwork. Teachers, SENCOs, educational psychologists, and parents must collaborate to ensure your child gets the support they need. Open communication and regular reviews make it easier to adjust strategies when needed.
Encourage your child’s teacher to share updates on progress, and don’t hesitate to ask for more support if improvements stall. Remember, your child’s health, happiness, and education are deeply connected; supporting one helps the other.
How The Profs Can Help Your Child
At The Profs, we understand how worrying it can be when a child is struggling at school. Whether they have a learning disability, mental health challenge, or need a confidence boost, our tutors can help your child rediscover a love of learning.
We work closely with parents and carers, schools, and SEN professionals to ensure every child gets tailored guidance. Our Tutors are experienced in supporting children and young people with special educational needs, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety-related difficulties.
We also provide flexible online sessions, so your child can get expert academic and emotional support from the comfort of home. Whether they’re struggling to attend lessons, preparing for exams, or adjusting to a new environment, we can help them feel motivated and capable again.
Hear from students and families who’ve seen real progress with our tutors:
“I have ADHD and Liz was so understanding and encouraging – she stopped me giving up on myself and adapted to how I think and where I was struggling. Liz provided me with loads of visual packs that had concise and intelligent information. Her enthusiasm about English always stayed with me after the lesson.”
– Lauren, student
“I was particularly impressed by her flexibility in tailoring her support and advice to a bright, neurodiverse student with significant special educational needs (ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and dysgraphia) and strong opinions. My son really enjoyed his sessions with Natalie. Ultimately he received offers from Oxford (Wadham), Edinburgh and York – we are still waiting to hear from Durham and UCL. He would not have been so successful without Natalie’s support.”
– Joanna, parent
“Rather than adhering to a fixed syllabus, Dr. Bannister crafted a tailored curriculum perfectly aligned with my individual needs and pace. His flexibility, depth of insight, and unwavering support have been instrumental to my academic growth.”
– Aryamann, student
So, if you’re asking yourself, “My child is struggling in school – what can I do?”, start by reaching out for professional guidance. Our expert tutors, academic mentors, and education consultants are here to help your family find the right place to meet those needs – and get your child’s education back on track.
