Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) parental guidance
This guidance has been produced by Lancashire Educational Psychology Service. It has been created based on current research/best practice and on what local families and schools have told us about things that are helpful for pupils with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
Signs of EBSA?
Your child may show any of the following signs of EBSA:
- Be fearful, anxious or angry when faced with the prospect of school.
- They may avoid getting ready for school and become upset during their morning routine on a weekday.
- They may complain of physical illness: headache, tummy ache, feeling sick.
- They may share anxiety symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, fast breathing or pins and needles.
These symptoms may be present mostly during the week or on a Sunday evening when they know they are going to school the day after. They may not show these signs at weekends or during school holidays.
Where a child has been finding attending school difficult for a long period of time, they may no longer be attending school, have difficulty sleeping, have isolated themselves from friends or have a fear of leaving the house at all. This highlights the need for support to be put in place sooner rather than later.