EBSA can look different for every child, but common signs include:

• Strong anxiety around school or mornings

• Physical complaints such as stomach aches or headaches

• Emotional distress when separating from home

• Withdrawal, shutdown, or heightened emotional reactions

• Sleep difficulties linked to school

• Reduced confidence or increased self-criticism

• A sudden change in attendance following stress or transition

EBSA is not defiance or poor behaviour. It's a sign that school feels emotionally unsafe or overwhelming.

There is rarely one single cause. EBSA often develops through a combination of factors, such as:

• Anxiety or panic

• Social pressures or bullying

• Sensory overwhelm

• Academic pressure or fear of failure

• Neurodiversity

• Attachment or relational stress

• Trauma or loss

• Changes at home or school

We understand EBSA as a stress response, not a behaviour problem.

Our work focuses on emotional safety first, not forcing attendance before a child is ready.

We support children and young people to:

• Understand and make sense of their anxiety

• Feel safer in their bodies and emotions

• Develop coping strategies at their own pace

• Rebuild confidence and self-trust

• Reduce shame and self-blame

Support may include talking therapy, creative approaches, relational work, and gentle nervous-system regulation, tailored to the child’s age and needs.