EBSA Support

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Support

Some children struggle to attend school not because they don't want to go, but because school feels overwhelming, unsafe, or unmanageable. This is known as Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

EBSA is driven by anxiety, emotional overload, sensory stress, or prolonged distress, not defiance or poor behaviour. Over time, avoidance can become a learned pattern that is very hard to shift without the right structure and support.

At Busy Brains, EBSA support is structured, regulation-first, and parent-supported, with a clear focus on helping families move forward in a calm and sustainable way.

What EBSA can look like

Children experiencing EBSA may:

• become highly distressed or panicked around school

• experience physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, or stomach pain

• struggle with mornings, transitions, or separation

• shut down, melt down, or refuse to attend

• attend sporadically or for reduced periods

• appear "fine" once allowed to stay home

EBSA often escalates over time if pressure is increased without addressing the underlying emotional and behavioural patterns.

How EBSA support works at Busy Brains

This is not "just therapy sessions". EBSA support follows a clear intervention framework that addresses both emotional regulation and avoidance patterns.

Support typically includes:

Parent coaching

Parents are actively supported with:

• clear routines and predictable responses

• guidance around mornings and transitions

• scripts to reduce negotiation and escalation

• understanding how avoidance is unintentionally reinforced

• confidence in holding boundaries calmly

Parent sessions are usually delivered online for flexibility and real-world relevance.

Child support

Children are supported to:

• build emotional and behavioural regulation skills

• understand and tolerate distress safely

• develop coping strategies for school demands

• rebuild confidence through achievable steps

Child sessions may be in person or online, depending on the child's needs and stage of intervention.

Gradual re-engagement planning

Attendance is rebuilt through:

• a step-by-step re-engagement plan

• clear, realistic goals

• regular review and adjustment

• collaboration with schools where appropriate

Attendance is treated as an outcome of regulation and support, not something to be forced.

A balanced, practical approach

EBSA support at Busy Brains recognises that:

• emotional distress is real and valid

• avoidance patterns can become reinforced over time

• children need support, not pressure

• parents need clarity, not blame

This approach combines compassion with structure, and support with clear expectations.

Who this support is for

EBSA support may be suitable for children who:

• experience anxiety or emotional overwhelm around school

• are neurodivergent (including autism or ADHD)

• struggle with sensory overload or demand sensitivity

• have become stuck in a pattern of school avoidance

Next steps

If school attendance has become a daily struggle and you need a clear, structured way forward, EBSA support may be a good fit.

Enquiries are currently open.

Please get in touch to discuss whether this service is suitable for your child. here...