Attendance & Emotionally Based School Avoidance

School attendance

Schools are expected to support all children to attend regularly. If your child's attendance becomes a concern, the school should work with you to understand the reasons and put support in place — not jump to penalties.

Reduced or part-time timetables can be used as a short-term, planned intervention, but they must be agreed with you, reviewed regularly, and not used as a punishment or an informal exclusion.

What is EBSA?

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) — sometimes called emotionally-based school avoidance or anxiety-based school avoidance — is when a child experiences severe anxiety or distress about attending school, to the point where they cannot go.

EBSA is not the same as truancy. Children who experience EBSA want to attend but feel they cannot. It is often linked to anxiety, bullying, sensory overload, unmet SEN, or difficult experiences at home or school.

Signs to look for

EBSA can show up in different ways, including:

• Frequent complaints of feeling ill on school mornings that ease later in the day.
• Refusal to get dressed or leave the house, or becoming very distressed when pushed.
• Avoidance of specific lessons, teachers, or social situations at school.
• Increased anxiety on Sunday evenings or at the end of school holidays.
• Withdrawal, low mood, or changes in sleep and appetite.

Steps you can take

If your child is experiencing EBSA, the most important thing is to act early and work with the school rather than against it.

• Talk to your child — gently, without pressure — about what is happening for them.
• Speak to the SENCO or pastoral lead as early as possible.
• Ask for an early review of any SEN support or EHC plan.
• Consider whether a reduced timetable, alternative provision, or therapeutic support could help.
• Seek support from your GP or a mental health professional if anxiety is significant.