Time: 9.30pm - 12pm
This course will be delivered online but will not be recorded.
Fees
Member - £99
Non-Member - £149
This essential course equips school leaders and staff to understand, identify, and respond effectively to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Learn how to distinguish EBSA from other attendance concerns, explore its root causes, and design a whole-school, trauma-informed approach that reduces barriers to attendance .
Facilitator
Kelly Hannaghan
Aims
- Understand the national attendance picture and the impact of persistent and severe absence on pupil outcomes.
- Explore the causes and indicators of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
- Distinguish between EBSA, school refusal, anxiety-based absence and other attendance barriers.
- Understand the statutory expectations within the DfE's Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance.
- Identify effective early intervention strategies that prevent absence from becoming persistent or severe.
- Strengthen relationships with families through supportive, solution-focused conversations.
- Implement practical classroom and pastoral strategies that reduce anxiety and improve engagement
- Create individualised support plans for pupils experiencing EBSA.
- Develop confidence in presenting attendance evidence, ensuring that data, interventions and contextual factors combine to tell an accurate and balanced story of the school's attendance journey.
Audience
All school leaders in all phases, Headteachers, Senior Leadership Team Members, SENCO’s, Attendance Officers, Inclusion Leads, Pastoral Leads, Senior Mental Health Leads, Teachers, Family Support Workers, Family Liaison Officers.
Facilitator
Kelly Hannaghan
Kelly is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant, and the Director and founder of Mind Work Matters Ltd. She puts wellbeing and people at the heart of education. She is an award-winning motivational speaker, school improvement advisor, published author and founder of the ‘Family Matters’ empowerment and engagement programme. Kelly develops the strategies to help people in education thrive from adversities. Her work with schools and organisations raises aspirations, engagement, attendance, and outcomes. Today, Kelly is going to offer insight and practical tools to equip you and your staff to support pupils get back to the classroom more regularly.