Our first message of 2023, Happy New Year...

We wish you all the very best for a peaceful and hopeful year ahead and thank you very much for your continued support. Maddie and I have our clear resolution set from day 1 - stop families from being unfairly fined and prosecuted through attendance guidance when they need help and support.

The Christmas and holiday period may well be fast fading into the background as we head into January, but for some, this period brought its own difficulties that are hard to let go of. Not least parents and carers of children struggling. The difficulties that cause barriers to school attendance do not go away during holidays, and that included the arrival of penalty fine notices for too many families.

The struggles and loneliness faced can be hard to put into words - and that is why today we're sharing this powerful short from visual story-teller Sonoko Obuchi. 

Sonoko is a respected and highly regarded artist. In this animation, she shows the perspective of Amy, the parent of school "refuser", Beck.  Hundreds of parents and carers have shared how relatable they have found it - how powerful and beautiful it is - and how true.

Festive seasons can trigger so many emotions and memories. I want this animation to reach as many parents and carers as possible who are going through something similar. Sending lots of hugs to you. Sonoko xxx

You can watch via this link: https://youtu.be/1ouvuuTMMbI

(Follow the channel to see more work by Sonoko and her son).

The film conveys the sadness of our situations - but we think that it also offers hope. Hope that stories are being shared, hope that more and more voices will be heard - hope that no one in this situation is alone.  That together there will be change.

Let 2023 be the year for that,

Maddie and Susan x

If you are supporting a young person who struggles to attend school information and resources can be found at https://notfineinschool.co.uk/