EBSNA

Educationally Based School Non-Attendance

This is a term adopted by Trafford Council and a number of authorities to describe children and young people who have significant difficulties in attending school due to a range of factors. EBSNA can start early on in a child’s school life but is often not identified until secondary school.

What can EBSNA look like?

• Crying or pleading

• Avoidance of getting up, get ready for school or leave the house

• Preoccupied with worries about school related issues

• Sleep difficulties

• Frequent complaints of minor illness e.g., feeling sick, headache

• Distressed and aggressive behaviours (usually at home)

• Some children mask their anxiety and appear fine at school

At home, or at school, children or young people may display their emotional distress in a variety of different ways. It is also important to acknowledge that children and young people may present as being OK whilst in school yet display a high level of distress at home. This can happen when a child or young person masks how they feel in an attempt to ‘fit in’. It is therefore important to listen to parental/carer concerns and what they communicate about their child’s behaviours.

Causes of EBSNA:

There is no single cause of EBSNA. Instead it is thought to be multiple factors unique to your child or young person that can include:

• special educational needs

• social and communication difficulties

• stressors from school

• bullying or perceived threats of bullying

• family and friendship difficulties

• negative thoughts

This can lead to pushing children and young people away from school and pulling them towards home.

Early Identification and working together towards action is essential

There are alot of children and young people who live and go to school in Trafford who are struggling with high levels of anxiety related to attending school.

The need for parent carers, school staff and specialist services to work together has become even more important as children, young people and families try to adapt to the short and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Click here to find out more information on how you can support your child and to access Trafford's Guidance document.

PARENT AND CARER INFORMATION AND ADVICE SESSIONS 24 - 25:

Book your free place today via: https://forms.gle/dNUkh96KRwwnhdSNA

Is your child struggling or reluctant to go to school?

Trafford’s Educational Psychology Service are hosting a series of advice and information sessions throughout this academic year. Each session will begin with some information about school attendance difficulties and what support can be offered, followed by a chance to ask questions and chat to other parents and carers. Each session will last around 90 minutes.