By Sarah Clark, Specialist Family Support Worker
On International Day of Education, every child and young person, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to access learning opportunities that meet their needs and help them thrive.
However, not everyone is able to attend school. Some children and young people struggle to attend school for emotional reasons, and they need understanding, flexibility and the right support.
Education looks different for different people.
What is Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)?
Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) describes patterns of school non-attendance that are driven primarily by emotional factors.
EBSNA can occur when:
-
stress outweighs available support,
-
perceived risks feel greater than resilience, and
-
“pull” factors that keep a child at home outweigh the “push” factors that encourage attendance.
EBSNA is not a diagnosis.
It is a way of understanding why a child or young person is struggling to attend school, so that the right support can be put in place to help them feel safe and able to engage with education again.
Why belonging matters
Belonging is a basic human need and is closely linked to safety, identity and emotional wellbeing.
-
Feeling accepted helps people feel valued and capable
-
Belonging reduces isolation and anxiety
-
Supportive relationships make it easier to cope with challenges
-
People who feel they belong are more likely to participate and succeed
For children and young people, a sense of belonging in education is especially important. It helps them feel safe, understood and ready to learn.
Push and pull factors
Understanding EBSNA often involves looking at both push factors (things that make school feel hard) and pull factors (things that support a return).
Pull factors (reasons a child may feel able to return)
-
Trusted relationships with staff
-
Safe spaces and flexible routines
-
Enjoyable subjects or activities
-
Peer friendships and social inclusion
-
Therapeutic support or mentoring
-
Gradual reintegration plans
Push factors (reasons a child may avoid school)
-
Anxiety or mental health difficulties
-
Bullying or peer conflict
-
Sensory overload or stressful environments
-
Academic pressure or learning difficulties
-
Family difficulties or trauma
-
Lack of emotional support in school
Support and next steps
Effective support for EBSNA relies on:
-
early identification of needs,
-
working closely with families and the child or young person, and
-
personalised planning that may change over time.
Understanding and planning support can take months, or longer, so it’s important to consider short-term support alongside longer-term plans.
Local Authorities have a legal duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide suitable alternative education for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school due to illness, exclusion or other reasons — including EBSNA, where attendance is not reasonably possible.
Support should align with the SEND Code of Practice. Where emotional distress or unmet needs affect attendance, schools may need to increase adjustments or provision. Many children experiencing EBSNA benefit from being placed on the SEN register and supported through a graduated response.
Without the right support, EBSNA can affect:
-
academic progress,
-
social development,
-
mental health, and
-
family wellbeing.
Why this matters
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 1–2% of UK school-aged children experienced emotionally based school avoidance.
Since then:
-
overall school absence rates have risen,
-
persistent absence has increased significantly, and
-
the number of children classed as “severely absent” continues to grow.
This highlights the need for understanding, flexibility and joined-up support.
Further support and resources
-
Bromley IASS – Information, Advice and Support Service
-
Bromley Local Authority – What is EBSA?
-
Witherslack Group – Understanding EBSA
-
YoungMinds – School anxiety and refusal
-
BBC Bitesize – School anxiety and refusal
-
Family Lives – School avoidance and anxiety
- Family Toolbox – Helping your child with school anxiety
-
PDA Society – EBSA guidance
We support disabled children, young people and their families in a range of ways. If you’d like to find out what support is available, please get in touch. Telephone: 020 8466 0790 or email: enquiries@bromleymencap.org
