EBSNA
Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)
SNAP PCF worked with Central Bedfordshire Council within a multi-disciplinary team across health, education and care to co-produce the Central Bedfordshire guidance, planning and support tool to help those children, young people and their families who face barriers to learning.
This guidance, pathway, and toolkit help schools identify needs early and take preventative steps, while also supporting families during a difficult period for parents. Children with EBSNA - emotionally based school non-attendance often experience:
- Severe anxiety or distress about school
- Physical symptoms before school (stomach aches, headaches, nausea)
- Panic attacks, crying, or shutdowns when trying to attend
- Relief when allowed to stay home
- Strong attachment to home or a parent during school hours
EBSNA can be linked to anxiety disorders, as well as autism and other neurodivergences. As children and young people go through school, academic pressures can be a trigger for EBSNA, masking due to sensory overload in the school environment, or from unmet special educational needs.
Information about the toolkits and advice for education settings can be found on the Local Offer website SNAP PCF understands the challenges navigating SEND services and the impact this can have on parents’ carers wellbeing, we run the Healthy Parent Carer Programme which is designed to improve parent carers’ health and wellbeing by promoting empowerment, confidence, and resilience, this is a twelve-week course delivered online within a small nurturing group.
Please email admin@snappcf.org.uk for further information. Useful links: Parents have told us that they find the resources shared by Dr. Naomi Fisher and the Not Fine in School organisation helpful.
Dr. Naomi Fisher, clinical psychologist, offers some helpful reflections and ideas in a series of podcasts linked below about EBSNA.
- Children who struggle going to school –Nuggets for parents
- Supporting children through EBSNA –Nuggets for teachers
- School avoidance and meeting children’s developmental needs
https://nipinthebud.org/podcasts-category/emotional-based-school-avoidance/
Barriers to Education https://barrierstoeducation.co.uk/
Not Fine in School https://notfineinschool.co.uk/
