There are a number of services in Devon that can provide additional advice and support when children and young people are struggling with school attendance due to feeling worried.
DiAS (Devon Information, Advice and Support)
DiAS provides information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND, and their parents and carers.
Age ranges supported: 0 to 25 years
See their website for information and resources, and how to get in touch:
Devon Family Hubs
Devon’s Family Hubs offer direct support for parents, as well as webinars and information sessions.
Age ranges supported: 2 to 18 years or 25 for young people with SEND
Contact details:
- Call the Advice Line on 0800 538 5458 (Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm) or
- Submit a parents request for contact form.
Public Health Nursing service
Devon’s Public Health Nursing service provide parent support, work directly with children and young people, offer support and advice to schools and professionals, as well as having lots of online support available.
Public Health Nursing websites:
- Health for Kids | Devon – for parents and carers
- Health for Kids – kid’s version
- Health for Teens | Devon
You can also visit our young people’s health and wellbeing pages, particularly for links to mental health support.
Age ranges supported: 0 to 19 years
Contact details:
Families can refer themselves to the public health service for help, or be referred by a professional, for example from school, or early help teams. Find your local public nursing hub and their contact details.
School Nurses
School Nurses are a part of our public health nursing service. They are able to help young people a wide range of issues, including worries about attending school. Young people aged 11-19 can ask for help from a school nurse themselves, or parent carers can make a request for support.
Young people may also find the Health for Teens website a useful source of advice.
Early Help
Rather than being a specific team, Early Help refers to the help offered by a range of agencies, working together to support a family’s specific needs. This may include support from communities, family and friends, voluntary and community service, universal groups, education and health.
Age ranges supported: 0 to 19 years
Contact details:
You can ask someone you’re already in contact with, such as a teacher or your GP, to refer you for Early Help, or you can request support yourself.
- Call our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1071. They are open Monday to Thursday 9-5pm and Friday 9-4pm.
- Email:
- Northern Devon: Earlyhelpnorthsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
- Southern Devon: Earlyhelpsouthsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
- Mid and East Devon: Earlyhelpmideastsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
- Exeter: Earlyhelpexetersecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Parental Minds
Parental Minds offer support through workshops, Facebook-based online peer support hubs and newsletters.
Age ranges supported: 2 to 18 years
Contact details:
Self-referral or referral by professional (for example school or Early Help).
- Text or WhatsApp: 07907 614516
- Email using contact us form
Place2Be
Place2Be work with schools to support children’s and young people’s mental health.
As part of this, they offer advice and resources for parents and carers to help support their child or young person’s wellbeing.
Age ranges supported: 0 to 19 years
Space
Space carry out youth work, community projects and other targeted services to support young people in Devon.
Their youth workers can offer encouragement, strategies and help find solutions to support young people through challenging times.
Age ranges supported: 11 to 19 years
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe, and anonymous online platform where young people can access mental health support whenever they need it. This includes a text chat service and a range of information and tools to support mental health.
Age ranges supported: 11 to 18 years
Togetherness
Devon County Council (Public Health), in partnership with Togetherness, offers families, adults, and children, free access to online learning courses, to better understand and manage emotional health and relationships in daily life.
As a first-timer or a return user of the Togetherness website, there are a wealth of resources, to access at your own pace. All you require is a Devon or Cornwall postcode, and the access code TAMAR.