!<Emotional Based School Avoidance>!

EBSA Guidance

If your child is anxious about school, or they are unable to go to school, we have advice on supporting them and working with the school and other services.

If your child is being affected by bullying, please get in touch:

What makes young people anxious

Young people can feel anxious about school for many different reasons. They may feel body shamed, might be worried about making friends, find schoolwork boring and uninteresting, feel pressured due to expectations of parents, and in constant fear of being bullied.

Some young people are also affected by experiences outside school, which also results in anxiety - such as bereavement to a close family or friend, an illness to a family member, many kids are young carers, which can cause anxiety.

Other young people, can be adversely affected by the school environment, not get on with a school figurehead or even the journey to and from school can create a huge amount of stress.  All of the above can make a young persons extremely anxious and exhausting, especially if they have a neuro-divergent condition or need is undiagnosed or not being well supported.

" They tease me about my body  everyday and it hurts"

" I feel like i'm the worst in class and

  everyone's laughing at me"

" my teacher hates me"

" Most of my lessons are so boring, I just don't see the point in going"

1. !< Ask for a meeting with the form teacher or the schools SENCO >!

2. !< Try and identify things that may help and then ask for those specific changes to be implemented. If, however, you’re not quite sure on where to begin, ask the school what changes they can offer >!

3. !<Schedule a follow up meeting with the school to discuss whether the situation has improved, allowing some time for your child to try out the new routine.>!

4. !< Before speaking with the school or advisor, ebnsure you make robust notes on what you would like the agenda to be. You can also ask the teacher/Advisor if they have identified any circumstances they have uncovered in working with your child. >!

5. !< It is very important you take down notes during your meeting. Ensure to agree any changes being implemented by both you and the school and follow this up with afterwards by email. >!

6. !<If, however, you feel the liaison officer isn't helping ask for someone else and state the reasons for the change  - such as their head of year or the deputy head. If you need to, you can always escalate the problem to the head teacher, governors, academy trust or the Local Education Authority.>!