EBSA is a term used to describe children and young people who experience difficulties attending school due to emotional factors.
Whilst using the term EBSA can help identify that emotional factors may be contributing to absence, it is essential that schools work with the pupil and their family to understand the barriers to attendance and develop an appropriate support plan to help overcome them.
Key Principles for Professionals
When responding to EBSA, schools and professionals should:
- Take a supportive, child-centred approach
- Identify concerns as early as possible
- Work in partnership with families
- Use graduated and proportionate responses
- Avoid punitive or enforcement-led approaches during the early stages of intervention
EBSA should be addressed through understanding, flexibility and support.
Schools should use the Graduated Response to identify needs, assess barriers to attendance and implement appropriate interventions. Schools are encouraged to refer to the EBSA resources developed by the Cognus Educational Psychology Team.
EBSA Resources
The following resources provide information, guidance and practical strategies to support children and young people experiencing emotionally based school avoidance:
- EBSA Guidance for Schools in Sutton
- Emotional Barriers to School Attendance (EBSA) | Support Services for Education
- Addressing Emotional Barriers to School Attendance (Anna Freud Centre)
Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Many attendance difficulties may be linked to a child’s emotional wellbeing or mental health. The following resources may be helpful when supporting children, young people and their families:
- Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools
Department for Education non-statutory guidance, including links to additional mental health resources. - Education Wellbeing Service
The Education Wellbeing Service works with a number of schools across Sutton. Visit the Education Wellbeing Service pages to access information, guidance and wellbeing resources. The service also offers a YouTube channel with videos for parents, carers and young people.
Mental Health Support Services
Sutton Uplift provides free, confidential psychological and wellbeing interventions for common mental health difficulties.
Off the Record Sutton offers free counselling and emotional wellbeing support for young people aged 11 to 18.
Government Mental Health Resources – Mental health resources for children, students, parents, carers and school/college staff.