Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)

For some pupils, Covid-19 may have exacerbated existing anxieties around attending school or attending school consistently, or new anxieties may have emerged.

This resource from Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (opens new window) looks at the topic of emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA) and shares ideas to help education staff address the issue.

In addition, a recorded webinar, delivered by Norfolk EPSS will help you to:

• Know what is meant by emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
• Understand and recognise possible factors that might lead to an increased risk of EBSA
• Identify ways to positively address EBSA

To access the recorded webinar please use this request form and you will automatically be sent an email with the link to the seminar.

The following links to materials are referenced within the webinar:

• West Sussex EBSA toolkit
• Salford EBSA Toolkit
• Manchester Anxiety Based School Avoidance Guidance
• Sheffield EBSA for professionals working with families and young people

The following resources are referenced within the webinar:

• The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside (2011)
• What to do when you worry too much by Dawn Heubner (2013)
• Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson and Lynn Lyons (2014)
• Anxiety is Really Strange by Steve Haines (2018)
• Starving the Anxiety Gremblin by Kate Collins-Donnely (2014)
• School wellbeing cards by Jessica Holder