What is Emotional School Based Avoidance (ESBA)?

Emotionally Based School Avoidance, is a definition that refers to reduced or nonattendance at school by a child or young person. The term “EBSA” is a pathway that recognises that this avoidance can be caused by emotional, mental health or wellbeing difficulties and is used by educational settings to support young people back into education using a graded approach. This pathway has also been referred to in the past as the Anxiety Based School Refusal Pathway.


What support can I get as a parent?

It is essential that parents and families work closely with us as a school because ESBA is complex and cannot be effectively addressed by one side alone. When parents and schools collaborate, we can create consistency, trust, and timely support for the child.

•    As part of Kent’s local offer, parents are entitled to have a free 30 mins consult with the EP service.  These can be booked by emailing kepscommunitysupport@kent.gov.uk. Further information can be found here.

(put the Kent offer PDF here)

•    School nurse emotional health referral is also available


What support can my child receive?

•    Contact your GP to highlight concerns around your child’s anxieties. They will be able to provide appropriate support and signposting from a medical viewpoint.

•    School nurse emotional health referral

•    SALUS referral for therapy

•    NELFT Emotional Wellbeing Team support

(Click the link for more info and has a video to describe their services.)

•    Drawing and Talking therapy in school

•    Tailored adaptions within school (following a meeting between parents/guardians and the Senior Leadership Team to commit to a home/school agreement plan). This can include adaptions such as soft starts in the mornings, early collection, additional wellbeing checks with an adult, and their own visual timetable.