You Belong Here: A project tackling the crisis of absenteeism in UK schools

Service Design

Afreen, Jeungeun Yoo, Kate Masters, Eugenia Camargo Hoyos a Mariam Almuheiri

You Belong Here responds to the growing crisis of absenteeism in British schools, particularly the phenomenon of Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) during the transition between primary and secondary education. The core of the proposed concept is the creation of a so-called Transition Team – a group of older students who, as trained mentors, help newly arrived students build a sense of belonging and security through shared activities and a system of “buddy” support. The set of measures is complemented by a new educational plan for strengthening psychological resilience in 6th grades and a digital interface, the Transition Hub, which provides parents and teachers with structured guidance during critical stages of adaptation. The whole system is thus moving from repressive sanctions to preventive, community-led care that addresses psychological barriers to attendance before they become irreversible.