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ABOUT EBSA
What is EBSA?
Emotionally Based School Avoidance, often called EBSA or EBSNA, describes situations where a child or young person feels unable to attend school because of emotional distress, anxiety, overwhelm or a sense of not being safe enough to cope.
It is important to understand that EBSA is not simply “refusing school”. For many children, their nervous system is reacting as though school has become too much to manage.
EBSA Reset supports children, families and schools to understand the underlying causes and gently rebuild confidence and connection with learning.
EBSA can be linked to
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Anxiety
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Autism or ADHD
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Sensory overwhelm
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Masking and burnout
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Bullying or friendship difficulties
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Learning needs
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Transitions
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Separation anxiety
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Low confidence
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Trauma or previous negative school experiences
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Demand pressure
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Feeling misunderstood by adults
What EBSA Reset believes
Children do well when they feel safe enough to cope.
EBSA Reset starts from the belief that behaviour is communication. Rather than asking, “How do we make this child go to school?”, we ask:
What is this child’s distress trying to tell us?
What needs are not being met?
What would help this young person feel safer, calmer and more understood?
What EBSA Reset does
Stabilise. Understand. Rebuild.
EBSA Reset is not about forcing a child back into school before they are ready. It is about helping everyone understand what is driving the distress and creating a compassionate, practical plan.
Stabilise
Reduce panic, pressure and shame.
Understand
Explore anxiety, masking, sensory overwhelm, social stress, transitions, demand pressure and unmet needs.
Rebuild
Create realistic next steps for home, school, emotional regulation, communication and gradual reconnection with learning.
Who I support
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Struggling to attend school consistently
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Experiencing anxiety, shutdowns, meltdowns or distress around school
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Neurodivergent or suspected neurodivergent
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Masking at school and collapsing at home
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Finding transitions, friendships, sensory demands or classroom expectations overwhelming
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Feeling stuck, misunderstood or unable to explain what is wrong
EBSA Reset may help if your child is:
The EBSA Reset Programme
A structured 6-week coaching and mentoring programme for children, young people and families experiencing EBSA, school anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance.
The programme includes parent support, young person sessions, practical resources, emotional regulation tools, and a personalised EBSA Reset Plan.