Dr Joanna Fortune: My 13-year-old daughter is struggling to make friends in school

All teenagers do not need to be part of a large group of friends. In fact, many do better in smaller, more intimate clusters. But each one needs to have some friendships

My 13-year-old has struggled to make friends since starting secondary school. She has finished her first year and has no friends, including in the one sporting activity she is involved in. I don’t know what to do. It’s total isolation, and it breaks my heart to know she walks around alone and sits in the toilet on her phone. The school is aware of the situation but hasn’t made any suggestions. Is there anything we can do ahead of second year?

Friendship comes up a lot in the questions I receive because it is so essential to children’s development.