14/03/2026
“My child wants to learn… they just can’t face school.”
This is something we hear regularly during Education Consultancy appointments at Live to Learn Integrated Assessments and Education Consultancy.
Many families come to us when their child is experiencing EBSNA (Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance) and the situation has become overwhelming.
The uniform is ready.
The bag is packed.
But your child is in tears, unable to leave the house.
For many children, this isn’t defiance or poor behaviour. EBSNA happens when a child is too emotionally distressed to attend school, often linked to anxiety, sensory overwhelm, bullying, or unmet needs within the school environment.
For these children, school can trigger a genuine fight, flight, or shutdown response.
Parents often feel stuck between:
• Pressure from school around attendance
• A child whose wellbeing is deteriorating
• Not knowing what support or rights they have
📚 It’s important to know that children still have a legal right to education even when they cannot attend school.
Under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, Local Authorities must provide suitable education for children who cannot attend school because of illness or other reasons.
Schools also have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, including many neurodivergent children.
Sometimes the traditional school environment simply isn’t the right setting for a period of time (or forever), and children need a different approach to rebuild confidence and reconnect with learning.
During our Education Consultancy appointments, we help families to:
✔ Understand what EBSNA means for their child
✔ Understand what schools and Local Authorities are legally required to do
✔ Explore appropriate education options
✔ Create a clear plan that protects both wellbeing and access to education
Families often tell us that the biggest relief is finally having someone explain the system clearly and help them move forward with a plan.
If your child is currently struggling to attend school due to anxiety or emotional distress, you are not alone — and support does exist.
📩 We offer a limited number of Education Consultancy appointments each month, for £199.
If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘this sounds exactly like my child’, feel free to comment below with ‘EBSNA’ and we can send you information about our consultancy support.
