EBSA Assessment & Support

If your child is feeling too anxious or distressed to attend school, you're likely feeling lost, judged, and desperate for answers.

You might be:

• Walking on eggshells each morning
• Being told it’s an “attendance issue”
• Trying everything you can think of… and nothing seems to work

And underneath it all, a question that keeps coming back:
“What is actually going on for my child?”

Understanding EBSA

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) describes when a child or teenager is unable to attend school due to overwhelming emotional distress.

It’s not about defiance.
It’s not about poor parenting.
And it’s very rarely just “anxiety” in isolation.

In my work with families, EBSA is often a surface signal of something deeper, a mismatch between your child’s needs and the school environment.
When we begin to understand your child properly, things start to make more sense, and the path forward becomes clearer.

This might include:

• Underlying differences such as autism or ADHD
• Sensory overwhelm within the school environment
• Social and relational strain (often hidden or masked)
• Cognitive or learning differences increasing demand
• A mismatch between the young person and what is being asked of them

Without understanding these underlying drivers, support can feel like guesswork and often doesn’t stick.

 

Why a Different Approach Matters

Many families come to me after trying:

• Encouragement and reassurance
• School-based plans
• Standard anxiety strategies

But when the root causes aren’t fully understood, these approaches can unintentionally increase pressure and distress.

What helps is not doing more but understanding differently.

 

Where to Start

Rather than offering a standalone “EBSA package,” I offer two focused ways to help you gain clarity and move forward with confidence.

1. Parent Power Hour - £240

For when you need clarity, direction, and a plan.

This is often the best first step if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what your child needs.

In this 60-minute session, we:

• Make sense of your child’s pattern of distress and school avoidance
• Identify what may be driving and maintaining the difficulties
• Consider whether neurodivergence may be part of the picture
• Clarify what will actually help (and what may be increasing pressure)

You’ll leave with:

• A clear, grounded understanding of what’s going on
• Practical next steps tailored to your child
• A detailed written summary you can refer back to

Best for: Parents who aren’t sure what’s needed yet, but know something doesn’t feel right.

 

2. Neurodevelopmental Assessment Consultation - £275

For when you’re wondering if autism and/or ADHD may be part of the picture

If your child’s difficulties feel more complex, longstanding, or don’t fully fit with anxiety alone, an assessment consultation can help determine whether a full neurodevelopmental assessment is indicated.

In this consultation, we:

• Explore your child’s developmental history and current presentation
• Complete standardised screening measures (e.g. Conners Questionnaire, Social Responsiveness Scale)
• Consider whether autism and/or ADHD may be contributing
• Discuss whether a full assessment would be helpful
• Answer your questions about the process

If you go on to book an assessment, the cost of this consultation is deducted.

Best for: Parents noticing patterns that suggest there may be more beneath the surface.

 

A Different Way of Thinking About EBSA

When we understand EBSA as a response to unmet needs and overwhelming demands, everything begins to shift.

Instead of asking:

“How do we get them back to school?”

We begin asking:

“What is making school feel impossible right now, and what needs to change?”

That’s where meaningful progress begins.

 

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Most parents who reach out aren’t certain what they need.

They just know something doesn’t feel right.

You’re very welcome to get in touch to talk things through, there’s no pressure to proceed.

Or, if you’re ready to take the next step:

 

 

 

We also offer EBSA Training & Consultation Packages for Schools

Supporting emotionally based school avoidance requires whole-school understanding and a compassionate, strategic response. We offer tailored training and consultation to equip staff with the confidence and tools to make a real difference. See the Schools & Organisations page for details.

Whether you're a parent desperate for answers or a school looking to improve attendance and wellbeing, my EBSA services offer practical tools, clinical insight, and real hope.