Understanding EBSA: Attendance, Anxiety and Safeguarding in Schools

This KSAF-Accredited CPD programme is designed for school staff in England who support pupils experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). The course explores how emotional distress, anxiety, SEND, sensory needs, family circumstances and safeguarding concerns can affect a pupil’s ability to attend school. It supports learners to move beyond labels such as “truancy”, “refusal” or “non-compliance” and instead understand attendance as a key indicator of wellbeing, safety and unmet need. Aligned with Department for Education guidance, including Working together to improve school attendance and Keeping children safe in education, the programme promotes a support-first, safeguarding-informed approach to school attendance. Learners will develop practical skills in: identifying EBSA patterns and triggers applying professional curiosity working with pupils, parents and carers in a non-blaming way recognising links between attendance, SEND and safeguarding recording concerns factually and professionally planning gradual, child-centred reintegration knowing when to involve internal or external support The course is suitable for Attendance Officers, pastoral staff, safeguarding teams, SEND staff, inclusion teams, senior leaders and wider school support staff. The central message of the programme is clear: EBSA is not about defiance. It is about distress, barriers and support.