07/03/2026
❤️❤️❤️
EBSA is not fixed by attendance meetings.
Too often families are called into meetings where the focus is simply on getting a child back through the school gates.
More pressure.
More targets.
More talk about attendance percentages.
But EBSA is not an attendance problem.
It is usually a sign that something much deeper is happening for that child.
For many neurodivergent children, school avoidance is linked to:
• chronic stress in the nervous system
• sensory overload
• unmet learning needs
• trauma from repeated failure or misunderstanding
• environments that feel unsafe
When the system responds only with attendance meetings, warning letters, or threats, the child’s distress often increases.
And the family is left feeling blamed for a situation they are desperately trying to manage.
The law is actually clear.
Under the Education Act 1996 Section 19, local authorities must ensure a child receives suitable education if they cannot attend school because of illness or other reasons.
The Children and Families Act 2014 also requires that children with SEND receive the provision they need.
This means the focus should not simply be “How do we get them back into school?”
The question should be:
“What is happening for this child, and what support do they need to feel safe learning again?”
Because children do not refuse school for no reason.
They are communicating distress.
And when we listen properly, solutions begin to appear.
If you are navigating EBSA with your child, please know you are not alone and you are not failing.
You are advocating for a system that still has a lot to learn. 💙💙💙
