Aarhus Municipality admits mistakes after 65 children with school refusal lost their support. Experts say the process broke Danish law, leaving many families feeling abandoned.
Municipality Apologizes After Support Was Cut
Aarhus Municipality has acknowledged serious mistakes in how it stopped providing help to families of 65 children struggling with school refusal. A professor in social law has assessed that the municipality’s actions likely violated legal requirements. Officials now promise to correct the situation and ensure that affected families are not left to manage on their own.
The issue began when families whose children were receiving help from the municipality’s “well-being team”—a multidisciplinary group supporting children unable to attend school regularly—were told their cases would end after nine months. Staff were instructed to close all cases beyond that time frame. For many parents, the decision came suddenly, without written notice, a transition plan, or information about alternative help.
Legal Expert: The Decision Breached Child Welfare Law
John Klausen, a professor of social law at Aalborg University, believes the municipality failed to meet core obligations under the Danish Child Act, known as *Barnets Lov*. Each child’s case must be assessed individually, and families must receive written decisions with the right to appeal. None of this occurred consistently. Instead, families were told verbally that their support had ended because of a timeline policy that did not consider each child’s needs.
Because of that, the decision is considered contrary to Danish law, which stresses continuity of care and protection of parental rights. The expert warns that children may have been denied stable follow-up when they needed it most, damaging both trust and legal safeguards.
Families Left Without Direction
Several parents describe the experience as confusing and distressing. One mother shared that her daughter, who has autism and ADHD, had been making progress after years of absenteeism thanks to the team’s understanding approach. When she was told the support would end immediately, she felt powerless and uncertain about what to do next.
For families with children facing anxiety or school avoidance, finding consistent help can already be difficult. Many depend on specialized municipal programs or external services like childcare in Denmark that integrate emotional and educational support. Losing a stable connection can severely disrupt progress and confidence in the system.
Municipality Promises to Reassess Every Case
The municipality’s head of children’s services, Henrik Andreas Jensen, admits that the families’ experiences show that something went wrong. He acknowledges that some cases were handled incorrectly and assures that staff are now reviewing every affected family. Officials are reaching out directly to parents to ensure that no child with school refusal is left without a plan.
Some families, including that of an 11-year-old girl named Alba, have already had their support extended for three months. The extension came only after their situation was publicly reported. The hope is that this will give the municipality enough time to arrange appropriate new offers so that children do not lose all structure or guidance during the transition.
Social Law and the Child’s Right to Stability
Under the Child Act, local authorities must organize assistance based on each child’s specific needs. Cases handled under Section 32 are subject to special rules guaranteeing continuity and close follow-up. Families under these provisions retain the right to appeal a decision to end services. In contrast, preventive measures under Section 30 allow closures without appeal, which often leaves parents stuck without options.
For that reason, cutting all programs after nine months without individual review contradicts the law’s fundamental principles. The municipality now recognizes it failed to separate different case types properly before enforcing the blanket rule.
Parents Call for Action, Not Just Apologies
While some parents welcome the municipality’s apology, they also say words are not enough. They want to see concrete alternatives that meet their children’s emotional and educational needs. Without real follow-up, many fear their children will slide backward after months of gradual improvement.
Interestingly, the situation highlights a larger challenge for Danish municipalities: balancing administrative efficiency with a child-centered approach. Even though the well-being team was meant to provide short-term help, strict limits on duration can overlook complex realities that families face every day.
In the end, Aarhus Municipality’s case has sparked a wider debate on how children with school refusal are supported across Denmark. The outcome of this review could set an example for other cities aiming to improve cooperation between schools, social services, and families struggling with similar challenges.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Childcare in Denmark Guide Expats
The Danish Dream: Best Child Care in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: Aarhus Kommune Beklager: Der Skete Fejl Da 65 Børn Med Skolevægring Mistede Støtten
