Emotionally Based School Avoidance is a broad umbrella term used to describe children and young people who have severe difficulty in attending school due to negative experiences and associations, often resulting in prolonged absences from school. Some of this may be linked to poor prior experiences, to emotional and physical distress and anxiety related to being on the school premises.

The Covid-19 global pandemic and the disruption caused to school attendance has impacted many families, with some children & young people experiencing heightened levels of anxiety about returning to school after school closures and periods of lockdown during 2020 and 2021. For some young people, these anxieties persist and escalate, and may prevent access to the curriculum and to assessments and exams important for long term opportunities.

We will work closely with schools and services supporting young people with EBSA to create positive solutions that get to the heart of the issues that are preventing school attendance.