Zara: stomach aches on school mornings

The case (fictional)

Zara is nine and lives in Bradford with her parents and her two-year-old brother; the family is of Mirpuri Pakistani heritage. In the spring her mother had emergency surgery and spent ten days in hospital, and Zara stayed with her grandmother, who lives on the same street.

Since then Zara has complained of stomach aches on most school mornings. She cries and clings at the school gate and has missed eighteen days this term. On days she stays home the pain settles by mid-morning and she watches cartoons beside her mother. She asks again and again whether her mother will "get poorly again", will not fall asleep unless her mother stays in the room, and now refuses the sleepovers she used to enjoy. The GP examined her and found nothing physically wrong.

Her father drives a taxi at night and says her mother "gives in too easily". Her mother, who speaks little English and describes herself as a worrier, says she cannot bear to see Zara cry. The school has sent a warning letter about attendance.

Her class teacher says that once Zara is in class she settles within twenty minutes, has two good friends, reads well and loves art.