By Donal McMahon

Copyright belfastlive

A Co Down support group with a network of thousands of UK parents is lobbying for “urgent” Stormont action to save their children from “suffering in silence”. Newcastle Emotional Based School Non-Attendance formed after parents of children in emotional distress reached out to each other. A South Down MLA engaging with the group has now called on the Assembly to “move Heaven and Earth” for school kids in “turmoil”. READ MORE: NI Council’s ‘trust’ issues with National Trust sparks angry exchanges over failed Mournes Gateway project. READ MORE: Tree pod burials could be offered as climate friendly option. A NEBSA spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service saying:”We have many parents who only when they met as a group began to realise they were being told the same thing, ‘you’re the only one with this issue’. “But, local support groups like ours in the Newcastle area of Co Down are now growing in numbers. Many of our members also avail of larger groups for support, for example ‘Not Fine In School’ a Facebook family support group that has 75,000+ parents, carers and family members. “When a child doesn’t go to school because of emotional distress, their pain is real. It is not something to shame, punish, or ignore. But too often, that is exactly what happens. “Policies that emphasise attendance at all costs, schools that insist on compliance without flexibility, long delays in diagnosing and supporting SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) or mental health, all these compound harm.” Some concerned parents have told the LDRS that they have “no choice” , but to deregister their children and take on home schooling as they wait for autism and ADHD assessments to protect their child’s mental health. In a move to recognise the condition, the Education Authority (EA) this month has begun to record emotional based school avoidance for the first time with a unique absence code. However, NI’s biggest teachers union NASUWT told the LDRS this week that it had doubts on its effectiveness, with no apparent follow up service. The union has also backed a NI wide system of online learning for EBSNA, something that is already available in other parts of the UK. The Newcastle parent added: “We ask the public and policymakers to look beyond the numbers of absences. Hear the voices of children. Trust parents. “Recognise that supporting attendance means supporting wellbeing first. “Systems must change so that no child ever feels they must suffer in silence.” South Down Sinn Fein MLA Cathy Mason is now urging the Minister for Education Paul Givan to activate change within his gift after her eyes were opened to the mental and physical distress of children on a daily basis. Mrs Mason said: “We are talking about children who are traumatised and are in emotional turmoil and burnout, because it’s months or years of not getting their needs met at school. “We should be moving Heaven and Earth to support these children to meet their needs. I was contacted by parents who were going through EBSNA with their children and they asked me to come to a meeting. “I went along and to be honest I was probably quite naive walking into that room as to what I was going to hear. And the stories from those parents of what their children are facing day in day out, was nothing short of horrific. “I walked out of the meeting with a much better understanding of the issue, but also with a real motivation that something needs to be done about this. “Parents were sharing stories of bringing their children to the school gates only to suddenly experience panic attacks, in some cases children physically vomiting and just being overwhelmed by an intense anxiety associated with getting into school. “These are real life struggles that parents are having to deal with. I know many of us, myself included, I have two children of school age and it can be difficult to get out of the door to go to school in the mornings. But, for parents facing EBSNA and for children on a daily basis something needs to be done and done urgently.” The MLA says that the current Assembly mandate has now run out of time to legislate on Private Member Bills, with dozens of them expected to be shelved, leaving the chamber’s back benches without a key democratic mechanism to push through a strategy on EBSNA concerns. However, the South Down member has pledged not to be standing idle on the issue in the wings of Stormont buildings and has now called on Minister Givan “to step up to the plate”. The MLA said: “The whole education system needs reform. As of this week, I was talking to DE officials and to me it seems they don’t understand the pressure parents and teachers are under trying to meet children’s needs. And the support needs to come from the top, at the DE. “We are hearing plans from the Minister about this, but we are not seeing the action plans to back it up. We are not seeing timelines or resources. “We know schools and teachers are under pressure, but there needs to be some form of guidance that comes directly from the DE. There needs to be a new form of teacher training and I know they would welcome this, to feel confident in how to deal with it. “It is certainly not an easy ask, but I am going to continue to stand with parents and children to make sure there is action. The Minster must step up to the plate. It requires much more than recognition, it requires leadership and most importantly action.” Mrs Mason has raised her concerns to the DE, with a letter response from Minister Givan describing a recent public consultation as a “significant step forward”. It reads: “My department is progressing legislation within the current Assembly mandate to require all young people to participate in education, training, or apprenticeship until the age of 18. “This includes all learners, including those with SEN . The public consultation on this proposal has now closed and the department is considering the responses received as it moves forward with the legislative process. “This marks a significant step forward in ensuring that every young person has access to meaningful pathways that support their development, attainment and future success.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here