Local Authority Wide
EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance) Partnership Framework
A Local Authority wide Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) initiative to improve attendance, wellbeing and engagement in schools.
Providing training and resources for all LA professionals, school staff and parents/carers.
BOOK AN EBSA FRAMEWORK INTRODUCTORY MEETING
COLLABORATIVE
A joined up, shared approach between all services, schools and parent/carers.
SUSTAINABLE
Long-term, embedded approaches which are practical and realistic, and lead to a positive culture change.
IMPACTFUL
More than improving attendance; supporting long-term wellbeing and sense of belonging in school.
"Supporting CYP experiencing EBSA requires a deep understanding and compassion for the unique challenges these children face."
15.2%
Primary School
22.4%
Secondary School
35.4%
Special School
While there are exceptional professionals that have a huge impact in supporting CYP experiencing EBSA, the impact they alone can have on achieving sustainable systemic change is often an uphill battle. Our strength is always as a collective.
"Every person in the CYPs life has an impact on how secure and emotionally ready they are to attend school and to learn."
Local Authority Wide EBSA Partnership Framework
Commissioning access to three EBSA Horizons programmes;
one for every key person in the CYP’s life:
✓ Valued and engaging online modular courses developed by Dr Jerricah Holder (Specialist Child and Educational Psychologist).
✓ Providing the individualised targeted knowledge, tools and resources most relevant to each person’s role in the CYP’s life.
✓ Flexible, to fit with the schedules of busy professionals and parents/carers.
✓ Ensures a joined-up, shared understanding by all to strengthen collaboration.
✓ Create a unified support network for CYP.
Impactful, sustainable systemic change;
fostering an environment where every CYP feels valued, understood, and supported.
Framework Features and Strategic Benefits
The EBSA Partnership Framework includes everything needed for successful implementation and strategic oversight:
Strategic Leadership:
- Two-year unlimited access to all online training programmes and resources
- Live dashboard providing real-time visibility of progress and impact
- Support with planning broader attendance strategies
Implementation Support:
- Quick setup and registration management requiring minimal time from services
- Monthly steering group meetings to guide strategic development
- Flexibility to adapt to your local context and needs
Quality and Standards:
- Research-based training designed specifically for professionals, schools and families
- Content regularly updated with latest best practice
- Integration to support existing initiatives and pathways
Resource Efficiency:
- Cost-effective universal training delivered at scale
- Minimal ongoing staff time needed
- Long-term sustainable solution
Long-term Impact:
- Develops shared understanding across all schools
- Increases capacity and builds consistent approaches between services
- Strengthens support networks
The EBSA Partnership Framework represents a sustainable investment in building long-term capacity across Local Authority services, schools and communities, while reducing pressure on specialist teams.
Book a call with Dr Jenny Dutton or Dr Richard Skelton (Educational Psychologists) to explore the Local Authority EBSA Partnership Framework, and the impact this can have across your authority.
BOOK AN EBSA PARTNERSHIP INTRODUCTORY MEETINGEBSA Partnership Frameworks To Date:
Current Local Authority Framework Partnerships underway:
Other LA service and MAT Partnerships:
Professional Anecdotes:
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Thank you. I really enjoyed this course as it is an area of work I have championed and been involved in for the past 10-15 years. I particularly liked the way the course integrates different theoretical frameworks around EBSA to inform case formulations and planned interventions. I will certainly find the resources useful in my casework. This course has highlighted the need for more whole school training across the authority by the EPS. I think it is important as highlighted in this training every case is different and will require different interventions/approaches.
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This course has given me a much deeper understanding and skill set to make a positive difference. Using these approaches has not only enabled a quicker and more successful return to school for children, but we've also had a clearer understanding of how we can build upon these successes to build their resilience and feel confident with their success in school being maintained.
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Knowledge is power. With a better understanding I am hoping to become proactive with early identification and intervention.
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I am armed with tools I can use in my work, and with knowledge to educate staff and other professionals I work with. I feel I can now confidently challenge the language around EBSA (e.g., "school- refusers") and it has also made me think that I would like to co-ordinate a pilot project on EBSA in my patch of schools.
School Staff Anecdotes:
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This is an amazing course, very insightful and supportive. I have read a few different LA EBSA guidance and toolkits, and found then a bit confusing and a draining to read. This course has opened up these resources for me and how I can support the pupils in my school.
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An absolutely fantastic and insightful course. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity of this course and believe the content and strategies throughout the course will benefit the supporting of students and families alike. Thank you.
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I am office based and witness children come into the reception area in various stages of anxiety. This training has given me the confidence to ask more relevant questions to help put them at ease.
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I would like to thank Dr Jerricah Holder for sharing her knowledge , skills and experiences and making this one of the best online courses I have attended. It is realistic, easy to understand, and provokes curiosity and a motivation to learn more and implement the practices and approaches shared on the course. I feel that clarification and understanding of this topic is much better now.
See 100s of full reviews from school staff