You do not have to solve the whole day.
The aim is to get you through the next few minutes safely and help an adult understand what you need.
Get an adult now
If you feel unsafe because somebody is hurting, threatening, bullying, following or frightening you — or because you are worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else — do not handle this on your own.
Show this screen to a trusted member of staff and ask for the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or another safeguarding adult.
SHOW THIS TO AN ADULT
I'm close to leaving school.
Please help me with the next 10 minutes before we decide what happens next.
RIGHT NOW I FEEL
What has made things difficult
FOR THE NEXT 10 MINUTES, I CAN TRY
I would like support from
What I need from the adult
After 10 minutes, please help me decide
FOR THE ADULT READING THIS
Respond to the moment before debating the attendance.
This tool does not replace staff supervision, safeguarding procedures, school policy or professional judgement.
Why School Day SOS?
Walking out can be the end point of anxiety, overwhelm, bullying, conflict, sensory pressure, learning difficulty or something else entirely. A short supported reset can give the pupil and school a chance to understand the barrier before a difficult moment becomes the rest of the day.
This is a pupil voice and de-escalation aid, not a clinical assessment and not a mechanism for physically preventing a pupil from leaving.
For schools
DfE statutory attendance guidance expects schools to support pupils who are persistently or severely absent, or at risk of becoming so. DfE mental-health attendance guidance includes examples of supporting pupils to build confidence and attend regularly. Safeguarding concerns should be handled through the school's safeguarding arrangements.
Working together to improve school attendance · Mental health and attendance guidance · Keeping children safe in education