Help! My child is struggling with School Attendance, what can I do?

What could be the reasons for your child’s attendance difficulties? 

As parents it’s our job, at least initially, to try and unpick the many possible reasons our child or young person is unable to attend their educational placement. There can be many contributing factors, and these must not be looked at in isolation. 

Difficulties with attendance are often complex and interweave over more than one area of challenge. Attendance difficulties can build over time, and can include one or more of the following factors:

• Long term/Chronic medical conditions 

• Social Interaction and peer relationship difficulties 

• Difficulties arising from Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  (SEND) – and how effectively SEND is being supported 

• Poor mental health, for example: Anxiety, Depression, Emotionally Based School Avoidance -EBSA, Disordered Eating, Self Harming tendencies

• Attachment and Trauma responses arising from historical experiences both in and out of education

• Difficulties with reengagement following behaviour based sanctions and school exclusion 

• Academic stress, for example upcoming exams or struggling with work expectations in the classroom, and perfectionist tendences

• Attainment gaps arising from a combination of the above, with the child/young person highly aware that they are preforming at a lower level than their peer group. Self-esteem difficulties then arise, additionally impacting upon each challenge. 

  
  

The above gives examples – many of which our Facebook Community has shared with us, and is by no means exhaustive.

What is EBSA?

EBSA stands for Emotionally Based School Avoidance. EBSA is a term that refers to children and young people who are experiencing significant challenges in attendance at their educational placement. 

These challenges can often result in prolonged absence from education. Children and young people often show a variety of signs that may indicate they are struggling with EBSA which may include, not purely in isolation but also in combination:

• Increasing anxiety in the last weeks/days of school holidays 

• Increased anxiety on Sunday afternoons, into the evening with poor sleep hygiene 

• Separation anxiety, which increases in severity 

• Changes in behaviour and/or mood displaying signs of anger, irritability, tearfulness, regressive behaviours and speech patterns – especially when education is mentioned 

• Poor and/or a decrease in academic attainment and previously expected progress.

• Children and young people may also have frequent minor illnesses such as headaches, stomach aches, earaches etc

• Masking behaviour 

So, what should I do as a parent, to support my child/young person?

• If your child or young person does not have an EHC Plan,  now is the time to apply for an Education Health Care Needs Assessment  – the application process for an EHC Plan. An EHC Plan will ensure enforceable support your child/young person and enable them to reach their potential.  Our Blogs, Webinars, and YouTube channel provide extensive libraries of SEND resources and will support you to navigate through all EHCP processes, from EHC NA, to Post 19 onwards. 

• If your child or young person does not have an EHC Plan, but they have SEND. Our What SEN Support Should a School Provide for My Child? Blog explains the support your child or young person with SEND should be receiving.

• If your child or young person has an EHC Plan it’s time to check their EHCP, is it up to date? Is their EHC plan fit for purpose? Does it accurately reflect their needs (Section B)?  Are the provisions (Section F) in place fully supportive of each need identified in section B? Are all provisions being delivered? If you answered no to any of these questions it may be time to call an Urgent Review. You can use our resources to support you with this process. 

• Click here to watch our YouTube video where Anna and Sarah discuss Attendance Difficulties, and the steps you must take to support your child, and who is responsible for supporting you through this difficult time – including information on fines for Non-School Attendance.

• Begin researching Alternative Provision providers. This information will be available via the Local Offer on your LA’s website. 

• Book an urgent meeting with your child/young person’s  SENDCo. Alongside this you must also contact your LA. The LA are under duty to provide alternative education. (See Section 19 of the Education Act 1996) Local Authorities must provide alternative education for children and young people of compulsory school age who are unable to attend school due to illness, exclusion or any other reason regardless of whether they have an EHCP or not. This must, however, be evidenced by professionals, for example your GP, Paediatrician or other Consultant.

• Research any Social Prescribing support that may be available in your area through the NHS. 

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing is Community support prescribed to all ages to improve an individual’s Health and Wellbeing. The support varies depending on the provisions available within your local area. You can ask for your child/young person to be referred by your GP, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Youth Worker, and NHS professionals.

 There are many benefits of Social Prescribing. For a child/young person who is unable to attend school due to the impact of loneliness and isolation, and is no longer engaging with their peers, this can be a lifeline for the whole family. 

Examples of Social Prescribing that may be available in your area for your child/young person include:

• Creative activities,  including Art, Dance, and Singing groups

• Practical activities, such as knitting, cooking, or sports, together with walking groups and gardening clubs

• Lego groups, Gaming groups, and safe monitored online support groups

• Bespoke peer community groups such as Mental Health peer support groups, Neurodivergent Community groups, LGBT community groups and many more.

  
  

Threats of fines or legal action for non-school attendance

Local councils and schools can use various legal powers if your child is missing school without a good reason. They can give you:

• a Parenting Order

• an Education Supervision Order

• a School Attendance Order

• a fine (sometimes known as a ‘penalty notice’)

Often families can find themselves threatened with legal action when they have done everything in their power to support their child to attend school, but the child has become too unwell to attend due to EBSA and other unmet SEN.  As soon as your child is showing signs of significant difficulty with attending school, in addition to working with the school we advise parents to also seek support from their GP to:

1. evidence the real and significant nature of the child’s difficulties.

2. seek referrals to CAMHs and other appropriate medical professionals.

3. provide evidence for your child’s absences if necessary.

You can book repeat appointments for your child with their GP and do not need to take your child along with you if it would be detrimental for them to be involved in the conversation and/or they are finding it too difficult to leave home.  Your GP may not feel that there is a role for them initially, but EBSA is a difficulty that crosses education, health and sometimes social care boundaries and all professionals must play their part in supporting the child.  Even if your GP is not particularly supportive initially, we advise that you persist in involving them regularly by booking appointments routinely whilst your child is unable to attend school full time.

For further information on Social Prescribing click here.

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