The UK's first programme to reduce persistent emotionally based school absence has been launched by experts at Priory, the UK's largest independent provider of mental health, addiction and working-age adult social care services.
The latest data shows almost one-in-five children are now persistently absent in England, with around one-in-twenty pupils unable to attend school due to anxiety, emotional distress or other psychological barriers, otherwise known as emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA).
According to the Department for Education's latest 'Pupil absence in schools in England' report, 18.10% of pupils were persistently absent from school - up from 17.79% the previous year, while systematic reviews suggests around 5% of pupils in the UK are experiencing emotionally based school avoidance.
As a result, specialists at Priory have developed a pioneering ESBA programme to help young people aged 12-18 overcome these challenges.
Based at Priory Hospital Roehampton in south west London, it will combine therapeutic and educational support to help young people build confidence, develop practical coping strategies and reconnect with learning in a way that feels manageable and sustainable.
Over the course of five weeks, each participant receives a personalised support plan, a dedicated key teacher and occupational therapist, practical strategies to help manage anxiety and emotional barriers, and support to build confidence and work towards educational goals - with families involved at all stages.
"The impact of EBSA on young people and families can be significant both emotionally and practically, leading to isolation and, underachievement for young people and causing extreme challenges to family life," explained Dr Maria Zioga, Chartered Principal Clinical Psychologist at Priory.
"Many parents struggle when their child or young person develops anxious behaviour about going to school, despite it being a pupil’s natural environment to thrive academically and socio-emotionally.
“It's important to remember that children and young people who experience emotionally based school avoidance aren’t just being "difficult”, “lazy” or lacking care about their education.
"In many cases, they want to attend school, they want to belong to a shared community, they want to learn and make friends, but they feel overwhelmed by negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, they are preoccupied by worrying thoughts, or other underlying factors."
Dr Zioga added: "Prevention is always the key. The earlier families notice the signs and seek support, the better the chances of supporting a young person to maintain their connection with education and build confidence over time."
To coincide with the launch of the programme and the new academic year, Dr Zioga has shared practical advice for parents whose children are struggling with school related anxiety.
Dr Maria Zioga’s guidance for parents
1. Parents’ approach matters
“Children and young people see their parents as behavioural models (observational learning),” says Dr Zioga: “It is not easy for parents when their child refuses to go to school, but it is important for parents to remain calm and patient, to manage their own worries and frustrations.”
2. Validate emotions
“Acknowledging a child's negative emotions is important,” says Dr Zioga.
“It is all about recognising, understanding and expressing acceptance of another person's feelings. By doing this, you're creating a safe space for the child or young person to experience these emotions and process things without fear of judgement or rejection.
“Be present, listen to understand and be authentic. Parents can say: ‘I understand you are having a tough time right now,’ rather than saying: ‘There's nothing to worry about’.
“Parents can say: ‘I can see this feels difficult for you, given what you’ve been through, or we have been through as a family. This validates the emotion while still encouraging progress towards attending school.’
“Respond in a way that shows you are taking the child or young person seriously, such as ‘I can tell this is really important to you’ and ‘I appreciate your honesty’.”
3. Look for underlying causes to understand ‘what creates the problem’
“School avoidance can be linked to several issues or interactions between a child and their two main environments - school and home,” says Dr Zioga.
“The causes of school avoidance can be in the school setting or in the home environment, when there are life changes and difficulties. Other causes can be within the child or young person themselves, such as underlying psychological factors, sensory sensitivities, neurodevelopmental conditions and academic pressure. Parents need to keep in mind that refusing to go to school can be caused by multiple factors.”
4. Having a daily / weekly structure
“Wellbeing plays a pivotal role in helping to maintain emotional resilience. Consistent sleep, regular meals, reasonable exercise and restful times with pleasurable activities within the day can provide children and young people with a sense of predictability and emotional balance to manage stressful thoughts of going to school,” says Dr Zioga.
6. Work collaboratively with the school
“Timely and consistent communication with teachers and pastoral staff will help create a realistic and clear plan to manage the school avoidance,” says Dr Zioga.
“Through my experience over the years, it is important that personalised plans for children and young people are put in place early.”
7. Seek professional help early
“If anxiety is having a significant impact on the level of the daily functioning of the child or young person, then professional support can be beneficial or even needed,” says Dr Zioga.
"Your GP can be an initial contact, or speak to the child’s school and/or ask for support from your local CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service). See a specialist who can help young people understand their anxiety, offer therapy, and develop coping strategies to gradually rebuild confidence in going back to education. There is support and parents do not need to navigate this alone.”
Priory’s EBSA Programme
The programme designed by Priory Hospital Roehampton specialists aims to support young people - aged 12 to 18 – who experience school refusal and emotionally based school avoidance. It is a reintegration in-person programme consisting of ten sessions over a five-week period delivered sensitively in a real school. The service combines occupational therapy and specialist educational support, providing personalised strategies to help young people reconnect with the real learning classroom environment, in a welcoming, small size and sensory friendly educational setting and work towards re-starting their educational journey.
For more information about the programme visit: www.priorygroup.com/private-camhs/school-refusal-and-ebsa-programme