Emotionally Based School Avoidance - Advice for schools

What is Emotionally Based School Avoidance?

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) refers to a situation in which a child or young person has a severe difficulty in attending school often resulting in prolonged absence. It is accompanied by significant emotional upset which can include internalised difficulties such as feeling ill without organic cause when faced with going to school e.g., stomach ache; feeling miserable; being excessively fearful and externalised difficulties, such as visible displays of anger and overwhelming distress.

Children and young people with emotionally based school avoidance are at home with parental knowledge during school hours. Some researchers make a distinction between emotionally based school avoidance and those who are absent from school due to truanting (Thambirajah et al, 2008), others believe emotional reasons are behind all school non-attendance.

The Kirklees Educational Psychology service has published guidance for schools on this subject which can be found below.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance - Advice for schools (opens PDF in new window)