A template document to educate the school about your child’s eating disorder and make clear requests
What to say when you discover your child binned food at school (eating disorders)
In the book I give you principles and examples of empathy and dialogue.
Here is one more example you might relate to.
The child has secretly been binning food in school and the parent is trying to connect, understand and find solutions.
What can the parent say to both connect and find solutions?
Is your school supporting lunch? For pupils with an eating disorder, it must.
If your school isn’t supporting your child’s needs — such as supervising meals when they have a restrictive eating disorder — here are legal tools in UK and worldwide
Eating disorders guidance for schools: it’s all here
The main menu page for schools: your portal to everything a school needs to know about eating disorders, disordered eating, health promotion and obesity. How to spot issues, what to do about them, and how prevention works.
School support: a checklist for parents of a child with an eating disorder
Teamwork between parents and teachers helps children with eating disorders benefit from school.
I imagine that staff in schools all over the world have a desire to contribute to a child and a family’s wellbeing. If this is not what you’re seeing, the key to removing obstacles is communication. Engage key teachers in understanding the issues and priorities for your child. Discuss how they can support her with study, friends and eating.
Of course, it might not be right for your child to be in school at all, and I discuss this in my book.
But let’s assume your child is reasonably well, and would benefit from being in school if the right support was in place.
It’s time for an in-depth discussion with the Head, the relevant teachers and support teachers.
In case you’re feeling stressed, here is a checklist of points you might like to raise.