EBSA Emotional Based School Avoidance

EBSA: A Step-by-Step Guide

Practical Support for Emotionally Based School Avoidance, Anxiety & School Refusal

When a child can’t face school, it’s rarely about “bad behaviour” or “lack of resilience.” It’s often fear, overwhelm, unmet needs, and a nervous system stuck in survival mode. EBSA: A Step-by-Step Guide is a calm, practical handbook for parents and professionals who need clear actions—not judgement—when attendance is falling apart.

This book breaks EBSA down into simple, manageable steps, helping you understand what’s really driving the avoidance and what to do next. You’ll learn how to reduce anxiety, rebuild trust, and create a plan that supports both the child’s wellbeing and their education—without threats, punishments, or endless battles at the front door.

Written in an accessible, supportive style, this guide walks you through assessment, planning, communication, and reintegration, with strategies that work in real family life and real school settings.

Inside you’ll find:

How to recognise EBSA early (before it escalates)

The most common causes: anxiety, autism, ADHD, sensory overwhelm, bullying, trauma, PDA profiles, unmet needs

What to say (and what not to say) when emotions are high

Step-by-step “first two weeks” actions to stabilise the situation

Practical tools: regulation routines, morning supports, visual plans, graded exposure, safe bases

Working with school: meeting scripts, reasonable adjustments, attendance plans, reduced timetables (done properly), risk assessments

When EBSA becomes a safeguarding concern and how to evidence impact

Support pathways including GP/CAMHS, school nursing, SEND routes, and EHCP links

Reintegration plans that prioritise wellbeing and prevent relapse

Templates, checklists, and example plans you can copy and use immediately

This book is ideal for parents, carers, SENCOs, teachers, pastoral teams, attendance leads, SEND case officers, and therapists supporting children and young people who feel unable to attend school.

If you’re exhausted, worried, and unsure what comes next, this guide gives you a roadmap—one step at a time—towards safety, stability, and a realistic return to learning.