Improving outcomes for children and young people dealing with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Warwickshire’s SEND and Inclusion Change Programme (SCIP), which aims to improve the educational outcomes for children and young people, aged 0-25, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has begun a new project to look at how to improve support for children and young people experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). 
During a child or young person’s education, there can be times when they have severe difficulty in attending school. This is often associated with emotional and physical distress, such as anxiety, and can lead to prolonged absences from school. The term used to describe this is Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). This can affect all children and young people, not just those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Most recent government figures suggest that there are approximately 770,000 persistent absentees in England and local data highlights an increase in the number of children absent from school as a result of their emotional needs. It is predicted that this number will continue to rise. Young peoples’ educational experience has also been impacted by COVID-19 and anxiety about returning to school has been more evident following the pandemic.
To help address this increasing need, Warwickshire County Council will be working with parents, carers, children and young people, educational settings and key stakeholders to develop an improved offer of support for those who are experiencing EBSA. The project will build on best practice and existing work already undertaken.
The project team will analyse local data to better understand the level of need across the county and will use this to inform a collaborative approach which will involve key stakeholders.
The aims of the project will be to:
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Raise awareness of EBSA needs with educational settings, those working with children and young people and with families;
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Develop a pathway to enable earlier intervention for young people with attendance difficulties;
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Improve advice and information for schools supporting young people with EBSA needs;
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Improve support for parents, carers and young people experiencing EBSA;
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Improve methods for tracking young people’s progress;
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Develop a training programme to roll out across the local area.
By doing this, it is hoped that children and young people who are anxious about school will be supported to build their resilience and feel confident to re-engage with their education following non-attendance.
All children and young people should be given the opportunity to experience a rewarding and successful school career; a key stepping-stone to enable them to move on to a happy and fulfilling adult life.
Look out for further updates over the coming months as the project gathers momentum, as well as opportunities to have your say and help shape future support.