Addressing emotionally-based school avoidance

This resource looks at the topic of emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA) and shares ideas to help education staff address the issue.

Emotionally-based school avoidance is a term referring to reduced or non-attendance at school by a child or young person.

Rather than the term ‘school refusal’, the term EBSA recognises that this avoidance has its root in emotional, mental health or wellbeing issues.

The 2022 Attendance Audit from the Children’s Commissioner found that in Autumn 2021, 1 in 4 children were persistently absent. In 2018/2019, this figure was 1 in 9 – meaning that persistent absence has more than doubled in this time period.

This resource:

• introduces the topic of EBSA
• explores some of the potential risk factors
• provides strategies and tips to help education staff tackle the issue.