Eliza Fricker

You just need to stay calm. You should be able to manage. You should have grown out of that by now. You could try harder. Eliza Fricker spent her adolescence being told all of these things, until her autism diagnosis as an adult revealed why she may not have met the expectations of others so easily. Equally, the world didn't seem to live up to the expectations she had of it. Following on from her earlier book Thumbsucker, this graphic memoir narrates the complexities of Eliza's teenage years through to the beginnings of adult relationships; exploring the key stages of life from secondary school to college and then work. It was only as an adult that Eliza heard autism being talked about and wondered about getting diagnosed. She met others who identified as neurodivergent. They shared similar stories and struggles, and so, with her own eventual diagnosis, she started to process her experiences and write about it. And while diagnosis doesn't bring all the answers, it has allowed her to look back on her younger self with a bit more understanding and compassion - something she now wishes for others. As more young people explore their neurodivergence, this book will encourage readers to take an empathetic look back at their experiences and honour the identity they have created for themselves, in response to their problematic experiences.

An increasing number of children are struggling to attend school. The conventional approach prioritises a rapid return to their setting. For some children, this simply doesn?t work. They are stuck, not attending school but not learning out of school either. What happens then - and what can we do about it? This illustrated guide lifts the lid on the experiences of children and families who are struggling within the school system and explores how we can work with these young people to maximise their chances of a positive and fulfilled life.The book encourages professionals to take a new perspective and to consider what can be done differently. It explores the ways in which difficulties with school are understood by children, parents, and professionals, and shows how things can go wrong (and right), using real-life examples from a range of settings. Chapters delve into common interventions and the impact these can have in practice, before introducing alternative approaches which have the child at the centre. The voices of young people are foregrounded throughout, shedding light on their struggles with attendance - including when placements have completely broken down ? and, importantly, showing how they have gone onto success. Original illustrations are included to bring these ideas to life.Placing authentic experiences at the core, this book offers a valuable insight into the lives of children and families when school has gone wrong and will leave you with new ideas as to how to turn things around. What Can We Do When School?s Not Working? is essential reading for professionals working with children who are struggling with school attendance, from SENCOs and educational support workers to educational psychologists, senior leadership teams, and local authorities.