Emotional Based School Avoidance: How to spot the signs

30th October 2022

Blogs

Share this post:

 
Emotional Based School Avoidance: How to spot the signs

Early signs of EBSA

Emotional Based School avoidance (EBSA) is a term used to describe children and young people who experience challenges attending school due to negative feelings such as anxiety.

In this 18-minute podcast, Thrive’s Relationship Manager, Dom Sagar, highlights:

  • The early signs of Emotional Based School Avoidance
  • ‘In the moment’ strategies to tackle EBSA in your setting
  • The neuroscience behind a student’s dysregulation
  • How to support and steady your students for learning
  • The importance of celebrating small wins on a daily basis
  • Actionable insights to prevent school anxiety taking hold in the first place

Press play below 

 

 

 

Over to you

At Thrive, we’ve been supporting educators to tackle absenteeism and distressed behaviour for over 25 years. If you’re seeking to successfully reengage pupils and work with families to promote good attendance, click here to book a Discovery Call with your regional expert. Designed to fit in around your schedule, these free 30-minute conversations via Teams give you a chance to have your questions answered, decide if our service is a fit for your needs, and identify if you qualify for a £1,200 DfE grant to spend in your setting. 

Pass it on

Small actions can lead to a big ripple effect. If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, please consider supporting us in our mission to help every child and young person feel safe, supported and ready to learn by sharing it using the social media buttons below.

Want to join a like-minded community of senior leaders and classroom staff benefitting from insights and strategies to improve attendance, behaviour and attainment? Add your email address below. (It’s easy to unsubscribe).

 

Sector updates delivered straight to your inbox

Subscribe to the Thrive newsletter and receive our latest sector advice direct to your inbox

Subscribe today

 

Related content

How Thrive Schools are improving behaviour through earlier recognition and consistent support

9th October 2026 | Blogs

How Thrive Schools are improving behaviour through earlier recognition and consistent support

Schools are increasingly asking how they can reduce repeated behaviour incidents without placing additional pressure on staff. This blog explores how a shift towards earlier recognition and more consistent support can help schools move beyond repeated firefighting. Featuring real examples from schools using Thrive, it highlights how a whole-school approach can create calmer classrooms, improve pupil engagement and build greater consistency across staff, helping pupils regulate, participate, engage and learn.

Read full article →

Victoria's Story: Leading positive change through a Thrive apprenticeship

7th October 2026 | Blogs

Victoria's Story: Leading positive change through a Thrive apprenticeship

Discover how a Thrive apprenticeship helped Victoria Thompson build expertise, lead positive change and create a lasting impact for children and colleagues across her school.

Read full article →

Beyond Managing Behaviour: 5 Ways to Bridge the Gap Between Leadership and Classroom Experience

7th October 2026 | Blogs

Beyond Managing Behaviour: 5 Ways to Bridge the Gap Between Leadership and Classroom Experience

Why can behaviour data show improvement while classroom staff still feel exhausted? This article explores the perception gap that can emerge between leaders and teachers, why both perspectives can be true, and how schools can create greater consistency, communication and shared understanding. Drawing on insights from Thrive's Bridging the Behaviour Gap webinar, it highlights practical ways to strengthen behaviour culture, support staff capacity and move beyond repeated firefighting.

Read full article →

CONTACT US