EBSNA Guidance

Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) is a term used to describe the challenges some children and young people experience in attending school due to emotional, mental health or wellbeing issues.   The reasons why children and young people cannot attend school are often complex and vary by individual, often caused by a combination of issues rather than one single cause. 

There are a number of resources for parents and professionals providing advice and strategies for supporting children and young people experiencing school-based anxiety.   The terms 'emotionally based school anxiety or avoidance' are also often used.

Getting support for your child

DSPL7 Tiered EBSNA support offer

DSPL7 provides a range of support to schools, families and young people who may be struggling to attend school.  Contact DSPL7 or your child's school to discuss the support they may need.

DSPL7 has also put together a booklet for parents/carers, highlighting some of the support that is available for families who may be in this situation.

The booklet is updated every term, and can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

The Hertfordshire Educational Psychology team produced guidance for parents      following the COVID pandemic when many children and young people struggled to return to school.   All the advice and strategies in the guidance remain relevant. 

Click on the link below to download the guidance.

Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI) and Angels delivered a workshop for parents on EBSA.  The training session covered some of the reasons behind EBSNA, activities to do with your child and how to work together with school to improve attendance. 

The slides from the training can be accessed by clicking the link below.

EBSNA Step Forward Support Group

The Pioneer Club is working in partnership with Vista Support Services St Albans to deliver Step Forward: a school anxiety support group. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Useful Websites