Helping My Child With School Anxiety

Many children want to attend school but find it difficult because of overwhelming anxiety, worry, fear or emotional distress.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is not about being defiant, lazy or unwilling to learn. It is often a sign that a child is struggling to cope with something that feels too difficult, overwhelming or unsafe.

This practical toolkit has been designed to help parents understand EBSA, identify possible contributing factors and support their child through small, manageable steps.

Inside you'll find:

💜 Understanding Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

💜 Common causes and contributing factors

💜 The link between anxiety and school attendance

💜 Sensory, social and emotional influences

💜 Understanding what your child may be communicating through avoidance

💜 Practical planning tools and reflection activities

💜 Attendance and pattern tracking resources

💜 Desensitisation and confidence-building ladders

💜 Support planning templates

💜 Strategies for working positively with school

Every child’s journey is different. This toolkit provides practical tools to help families take small, achievable steps towards greater confidence, wellbeing and school engagement.