EBSNA: Emotional-based school non-attendance
EBSNA: Emotional-based school non-attendance
Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) is a term used to describe the difficulty children and young people experience in attending school due to emotional reasons, such as stress, anxiety and/ or feeling overwhelmed. This can result in prolonged periods of absence from school.
Other terms EBSNA is known by include:
- Emotionally Based School Refusal (EBSR)
- Anxiety Related Non-Attendance (ARNA)
- Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
- School refusal
In Surrey, we use the term Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) to include children who are unable to attend school, rather than choosing not to attend, because of increased feelings of fear and anxiety that may make school feel unsafe.
EBSNA can be a very challenging time for the child, the family and the school.
The Surrey Additional Needs and Disabilities Partnership has signposting for support:
