“How do you know you’re safe at school? When I’m not there”. Perspectives of autistic young people and school staff from one secondary school about attendance struggles and who is accountable for change

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref
Learn more about the sources used

Parsons, S., Watson, A., Moyse, R., Lynch, A., Gusman, C., De La Fosse, L., & Kovshoff, H. (2026). “How do you know you’re safe at school? When I’m not there”. Perspectives of autistic young people and school staff from one secondary school about attendance struggles and who is accountable for change. Educational Review, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2026.2680303

Publication date: 6 Jul 2026 Added to AutiHub: 17 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 7 (14.3%)
  1. Sarah Parsons
  2. Alex Watson
  3. R. Moyse *
  4. Alana Lynch
  1. Charlotte Gusman
  2. Lynn De La Fosse
  3. Hanna Kovshoff

Abstract

School non-attendance became an international phenomenon post-pandemic with many schools, regardless of intake or location, experiencing increases in pupils struggling to attend. However, pre-pandemic data highlight that non-attendance of autistic students was already a significant issue and increased post-pandemic. Indeed, autistic students continue to be overrepresented in non-attendance figures and research is needed to understand more about the root causes of why. This case study was a collaboration with a mainstream secondary school in the North West of England to explore experiences of school non-attendance within a specific school context. Data were collected using multiple methods: an online staff survey (n = 43 respondents), in-depth interviews with selected staff members (n = 3) and a Photovoice activity with autistic male students aged 12–14 years (n = 7). Reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data foregrounded the views and perspectives of the young people and then incorporated the views of staff. Three main themes were identified relating to (1) feeling unsafe due to uncertainty and unpredictability, vigilance and anxiety, (2) the avoidance of touch and engagement, and (3) safe havens that included people and spaces. Young people’s experiences focused on where they felt safe, unsafe and anxious while staff comments tended to focus on students’ avoidant behaviours and lack of resilience, interest, or engagement. These different emphases highlight the importance of enabling the sharing of both sets of perspectives from within the same environment so that meaningful changes to practice can be made.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 20 Sep 2026 01:01.

Cited references
55
With a DOI
37
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
18
1 / 55 (1.8%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
14 / 55 (25.5%)
References with detected author names
41 / 55 (74.5%)
Without detected author names
14
Without a structured title
14
Without a stable identifier
18
References with raw author names still to review
13
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
112
From DOI or external metadata
112
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
15
43 / 112 (38.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 69 / 112 (61.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
1 / 112 (0.9%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 1 / 43 (2.3%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 1 / 93 (1.1%).
  1. Gary Thomas (2012). Changing Our Landscape of Inquiry for a New Science of Education . Harvard Educational Review, 82(1), 26-51. Harvard Education Publishing Group.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.17763/haer.82.1.6t2r089l715x3377 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W286180042
    Crossref OpenAlex
  2. (n.d.). Adams R. (2023 March 16). One in five pupils in England were persistently absent in past school year. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/mar/16/one-in-five-pupils-in-england-were-persistently-absent-in-past-school-year .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  3. Nataša Pantić , Lani Florian (2015). Developing teachers as agents of inclusion and social justice . Education Inquiry, 6(3), 333. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3402/edui.v6.27311 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1898948438
    Crossref OpenAlex
  4. George Alaimo , Catherine Kelly (2025). School staffs' views on student non-attendance: a systematic literature review . Frontiers in Education, 10. Frontiers Media SA.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1599065 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4411292969
    Crossref OpenAlex
  6. Beckles C. (2014). An exploration of the perceptions and experiences of non-attenders and school staff within a secondary school context (Doctoral dissertation UCL Institute of Education). https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10021662/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  7. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology . Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1979290264
    Crossref OpenAlex
  8. Jo Billington , Tom Loucas , Fiona Knott (2024). “I liked school, but school didn’t like me”: Autistic young adults’ reflections on their mainstream primary school experiences . Neurodiversity, 2. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/27546330241310174 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4405762853
    Crossref OpenAlex
  9. Ann Lewis , Ian Davison , Jean Ellins , Louise Niblett , Sarah Parsons , Christopher Robertson et al. (2007). The experiences of disabled pupils and their families . British Journal of Special Education, 34(4), 189-195. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8578.2007.00478.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2024602751
    Crossref OpenAlex
  10. Booth T. & Ainscow M. (2011). Index for inclusion: Developing learning and participation in schools. centre for studies on inclusive education Bristol. https://csie.org.uk/index-for-inclusion/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  11. Sarah Parsons , Tony Charman , Rachel Faulkner , Jude Ragan , Simon Wallace , Kerstin Wittemeyer (2013). Commentary – bridging the research and practice gap in autism: The importance of creating research partnerships with schools . Autism, 17(3), 268-280. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361312472068 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2129777299
    Crossref OpenAlex
  12. Laura Lundy (2007). ‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child . British Educational Research Journal, 33(6), 927-942. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/01411920701657033 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2132503785
    Crossref OpenAlex
  13. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2022). Thematic Analysis . In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 1-7). Springer International Publishing.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_3470-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4320081749
    Crossref OpenAlex
  14. Gary Thomas (2021). How to Do Your Case Study . SAGE Publications Ltd.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.4135/9781036232238 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2311354228
    Crossref OpenAlex
  15. Janina Brede , Anna Remington , Lorcan Kenny , Katy Warren , Elizabeth Pellicano (2017). Excluded from school: Autistic students’ experiences of school exclusion and subsequent re-integration into school . Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 2, 239694151773751. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/2396941517737511 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2767941916
    Crossref OpenAlex
  16. Karen Guldberg (2017). Evidence-based practice in autism educational research: can we bridge the research and practice gap? Oxford Review of Education, 43(2), 149-161. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/03054985.2016.1248818 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2557987737
    Crossref OpenAlex
  17. (n.d.). Casey J. (2023 July 8). Number of ‘unexplained’ missed school days quadrupled in just three years. Irish Examiner. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41179048.html .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  18. Jeremy Chian , Andrew Holliman , Cynthia Pinto , Daniel Waldeck (2024). Emotional based school avoidance: Exploring school staff and pupil perspectives on provision in mainstream schools . Educational and Child Psychology, 41(1), 55-75. British Psychological Society.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.53841/bpsecp.2024.41.1.55 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4400041126
    Crossref OpenAlex
  19. David Preece , Marie Howley (2018). An approach to supporting young people with autism spectrum disorder and high anxiety to re-engage with formal education – the impact on young people and their families . International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 23(4), 1-14. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2018.1433695 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2793878924
    Crossref OpenAlex
  20. Sophie E. Connolly , Hannah Constable , Sinéad L. Mullally (2023). School distress and the school attendance crisis: A story dominated by neurodivergence and unmet need . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1237052-1237052. Frontiers Media SA.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1237052 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4386958092
    Crossref OpenAlex
  21. Keri Hoy , Sarah Parsons , Hanna Kovshoff (2018). Inclusive school practices supporting the primary to secondary transition for autistic children: pupil, teacher, and parental perspectives . Advances in Autism, 4(4), 184-196. Emerald.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1108/aia-05-2018-0016 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2888778055
    Crossref OpenAlex
  22. Shannon Corcoran , Catherine Kelly (2023). A meta‐ethnographic understanding of children and young people's experiences of extended school non‐attendance . Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 23(1), 24-37. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/1471-3802.12577 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4301397446
    Crossref OpenAlex
  23. Katie Finning , Polly Waite , Kate Harvey , Darren Moore , Becky Davis , Tamsin Ford (2020). Secondary school practitioners’ beliefs about risk factors for school attendance problems: a qualitative study . Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 25(1), 15-28. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/13632752.2019.1647684 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2965889301
    Crossref OpenAlex
  24. Shannon Corcoran , Catherine Kelly , Caroline Bond , Louise Knox (2024). Emotionally based school non‐attendance: Development of a local authority, multi‐agency approach to supporting regular attendance . British Journal of Special Education, 51(1), 98-110. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/1467-8578.12497 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4389568861
    Crossref OpenAlex
  25. Chantelle Zilli , Sarah Parsons , Hanna Kovshoff (2020). Keys to engagement: A case study exploring the participation of autistic pupils in educational decision‐making at school . British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(3), 770-789. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12331 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2993087230
    Crossref OpenAlex
  26. Debra Costley , Anne Emerson , Danielle Ropar , Elizabeth Sheppard (2021). The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words . Education Sciences, 11(11), 726. MDPI AG.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/educsci11110726 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3212069885
    Crossref OpenAlex
  27. Vasiliki Totsika , Richard P. Hastings , Yoko Dutton , Alison Worsley , Glenn Melvin , Kylie M. Gray et al. (2020). Types and correlates of school non-attendance in students with autism spectrum disorders . Autism, 24(7), 1639-1649. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361320916967 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3012853167
    Crossref OpenAlex
  28. Department for Education. (2024). Pupil attendance in schools. Pupil attendance in schools Week 41 2024. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  29. Harriet Hummerstone , Sarah Parsons (2021). What makes a good teacher? Comparing the perspectives of students on the autism spectrum and staff . European Journal of Special Needs Education, 36(4), 610-624. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/08856257.2020.1783800 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3040118136
    Crossref OpenAlex
  30. Emily Ellington , Sarah Parsons , Hanna Kovshoff (2026). ‘Bridging the gap’: exploring shared decision-making with autistic young people within an NHS Learning Disability and Autism Keyworker Programme in England . BMC Health Services Research, 26(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-14025-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W7127180067
    Crossref OpenAlex
  31. Sarah Parsons , Hanna Kovshoff , Kathryn Ivil (2022). Digital stories for transition: co-constructing an evidence base in the early years with autistic children, families and practitioners . Educational Review, 74(6), 1063-1081. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/00131911.2020.1816909 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3087991302
    Crossref OpenAlex
  32. Chloe Fielding , Alice Streeter , Deborah M Riby , Mary Hanley (2025). Neurodivergent Pupils’ Experiences of School Distress and Attendance Difficulties . Neurodiversity, 3. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/27546330251327056 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4409473574
    Crossref OpenAlex
  33. Sarah Parsons (2021). The importance of collaboration for knowledge co‐construction in ‘close‐to‐practice’ research . British Educational Research Journal, 47(6), 1490-1499. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/berj.3714 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3133504953
    Crossref OpenAlex
  34. Emmie Fisher , K. MacLennan , Sinéad L. Mullally , Jacqui Rodgers , Effy Tzemou (2025). ‘I Can’t Go to School, It Isn’t a Won’t’: Lived Experiences of Neurodivergent Children's School Anxiety Within the UK's Systemic Crisis . Neurodiversity, 3. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/27546330251385325 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W7092314577
    Crossref OpenAlex
  35. Finbar Horgan , Neil Kenny , Paula Flynn (2023). A systematic review of the experiences of autistic young people enrolled in mainstream second-level (post-primary) schools . Autism, 27(2), 526-538. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613221105089 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4283526793
    Crossref OpenAlex
  36. Laura Gray , Vivian Hill , Elizabeth Pellicano (2023). “He’s shouting so loud but nobody’s hearing him”: A multi-informant study of autistic pupils’ experiences of school non-attendance and exclusion . Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 8, 23969415231207816-23969415231207816. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/23969415231207816 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4387755707
    Crossref OpenAlex
  37. Kerrie Lissack , Christopher Boyle (2022). Parent/carer views on support for children's school non‐attendance: ‘How can they support you when they are the ones who report you?’ . Review of Education, 10(3). Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/rev3.3372 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4306411637
    Crossref OpenAlex
  38. Karen Guldberg (2019). Good autism practice: Full report . Good autism practice: Full report.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  39. Gunter T. & Makinson L. (2023). School attendance: Analysing causes and impact in pursuit of solutions. Nesta. https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/school-attendance-analysing-causes-and-impact-in-pursuit-of-solutions/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  40. Hannah Want , Anthea Gulliford (2024). Barriers to school attendance as experienced by young people and their parents: A Narrative Oriented Inquiry . Educational and Child Psychology, 41(1), 9-30. British Psychological Society.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.53841/bpsecp.2024.41.1.9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4400040632
    Crossref OpenAlex
  41. Kirklees Council. (2021). Advice and guidance for schools: Emotionally based school avoidance. Kirklees Educational Psychology Service. https://www.kirkleeslocaloffer.org.uk/sendco-professional-information-and-resources-page/tools-resources-and-training/emotionally-based-school-avoidance-advice-for-schools/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  42. (n.d.). Langenberg A. (2023 February 6). Mental health issues described as ‘key driver of non-attendance’ as students stay away from schools. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-07/school-attendance-retention-numbers-fall-across-australia/101935342 .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  43. Luke Sibieta , Darcey Snape (2024). Spending on special educational needs in England: something has to change . The IFS.
    Type: Report DOI: 10.1920/re.ifs.2024.0949 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4407637000
    Crossref OpenAlex
  44. Jennifer Price , Anna Mel Romualdez (2025). ‘It just feels unnatural being here’: Autistic secondary school students’ experiences of sensory sensitivities in the school environment . Autism, 29(9), 2228-2238. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613251333860 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4409624118
    Crossref OpenAlex
  45. Mills R. (2025). Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: Promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration . Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: Promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration, 133.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  46. Sarah Parsons , Hanna Kovshoff (2025). ‘I Am’ Digital Stories as a Praxeological Methodology for Supporting the Voices and Transitions of Autistic Children . International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/16094069251355986 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W6959402907
    Crossref OpenAlex
  47. Moyse R. (2025). Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: Promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration . Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: Promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration, 45.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  48. National Autistic Society. (2021). School report. https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/school-report-2021 .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  49. National Autistic Society. (2023). Education report. https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/education-report-2023 .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  50. (n.d.). Nippon.com. (2022 December 5). Breakdown of routines during pandemic lead to record school absenteeism in Japan. Nippon.com. https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01510/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  51. Sarah Parsons (2019). Building the evidence base through school-research partnerships in autism education: The Autism Community Research Network@ Southampton [ACoRNS] . Good Autism Practice, 20(1).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  52. Ripley K. (2015). Autism from diagnostic pathway to intervention: Checklists to support diagnosis, analysis for target-setting and effective intervention strategies . Autism from diagnostic pathway to intervention: Checklists to support diagnosis, analysis for target-setting and effective intervention strategies.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  53. (n.d.). e_1_3_6_49_1
    Type: Other DOI: 10.1002/rev3.3337digital
    Crossref
  54. (n.d.). West Sussex Autism and Social Communication Team. (not dated). Transition toolkit for autistic learners: A best practice guide for schools and parent carers. https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Pages/Download/0afadac0-09ee-4621-9cd2-0f6c047158fd/PageSectionDocuments .
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  55. (n.d.). Wiggins A. (2023 November 9). School attendance: More than half of students not attending regularly in term 2 2023. New Zealand Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/school-attendance-more-than-half-of-students-not-regularly-attending-in-term-2-2023/QDSV6SPBWJECJC2AV4PDM23RQM/ .
    Type: Other
    Crossref