«The fears took place in Tom's head»

Melanie: "Tom was my favourite person to be around from an early age. He was a very reserved, anxious child even at nursery school. Then in 2017, my husband fell seriously ill and has been bedridden ever since. Tom was initially very worried that his dad might die as a result. The illness still unsettles him today. Despite this, he started school well. He was placed in a class with his best friend, which gave him the confidence he needed. He has always struggled with getting involved in new things and opening up socially . Because his motor skills were not as developed as the others, he found PE lessons particularly difficult and was teased. All the other boys played football during the break, but not him.

When Tom's best friend no longer wanted anything to do with him at the beginning of fourth grade, his world fell apart.

Melanie, Tom's mum

He slowly became an outsider. When his best friend no longer wanted anything to do with him at the beginning of fourth grade because the other children said that he, Tom, was weird, his world fell apart. During this time, Tom started crying and shaking in the mornings when he was supposed to go to school. Sometimes we made it to the front of the school building together, but then he collapsed there and couldn't go in. As soon as we got home, he felt comfortable and safe and did his schoolwork.

He was suddenly terrified that his classmates would tease him even more or even assault him. I wasn't there during the breaks, but I think most of these fears were just in his head. The teachers never reported any violence.

Thanks to the time-out, Tom enjoyed school again

He then spent six months in the time-out programme here in Schaffhausen, and this time did him a world of good. He regained his confidence, regained his enjoyment of school and sometimes went beyond his limits when climbing or in the forest. He is now at a special school because the many classmates at the mainstream school are too much for him. He still doesn't get up in the morning and run out of the house enthusiastically. You have to give him a good talking to, then he likes to go. He is also still afraid that other children might tease him again. But he has learnt to deal with this and is still receiving regular psychological support."

Tom: «I don't want to talk about my primary school days and my former best friend, the pain is just too deep. I have fond memories of the months I spent in the time-out programme. I made a friend again there and was allowed to go for a walk with the therapy dog once a week in the morning. The treks into the forest were also great. I had a personal counsellor there who was always very cheerful and encouraged me.»

* Names changed by the editors