Emotional Based School Avoidance could explain why more than a quarter of children are persistently absent from school, expert warns.

New data from the Welsh Government shows 27.1% of pupils across primary and secondary schools are persistently absent.

Persistent absence is defined as a pupil missing 10% or more of their total possible sessions in the academic year.

Although these rates have been improving since the pandemic, the figure is still over 80% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

A leading figure in the children’s mental health and wellbeing field has warned how Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) could be contributing to these persistent absences.

EBSA describes children and young people who struggle to attend school due to emotional distress, often linked to anxiety, sensory overload, or social pressures.

Unlike truancy, EBSA is not a deliberate choice. It is often driven by anxiety, with some children experiencing physical symptoms such as nausea or panic.

Parents frequently describe morning meltdowns, refusal to leave the house, or selective attendance depending on how severe their struggle is at a given time.

Emma Davies is a Director at Health is One and chairs the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s committee for children, young people and families.

She explains: “Emotionally Based School Avoidance is often misunderstood. These children aren’t choosing to stay home – they’re overwhelmed and experiencing emotional distress. For some, the school environment triggers intense anxiety, sensory discomfort, or fear of social judgement.

“The rise in mental health challenges among children has been well documented, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, and persistent school absence is just one consequence of this. To address this, we need to move towards timely, compassionate and coordinated support. That means listening to families, working with schools, and recognising the emotional and developmental needs of the child that sits behind the behaviour.”

Health is One ran a pilot EBSA support programme for parents and carers of children aged 4–12 through its Exchange family service.

The support programme offered a blended model of online and in-person support, designed to give parents on-demand access to learning at a time that suits them.

This included digital learning, downloadable resources, support sessions with trained specialists and practical tools all structured to fit around family routines and individual needs.

The results found that of the 60 families who actively engaged in the pilot and the 66 children it supported:

• 89% of families were accessing support for the first time, highlighting the success of creating new pathways into early intervention.
• Parents reported significant improvements in confidence and ability to support their child’s emotional needs, with 88% showing increased self-efficacy scores.
• Key outcomes included improved anxiety management, stronger emotional regulation, and boosted self-esteem in children.
• 100% of surveyed parents said they felt supported, found the resources helpful, and would recommend the programme.

Emma added: “The results show what’s possible when families are met with timely and holistic support. Parents were empowered with the tools and confidence to help respond to EBSA effectively, helping their children strengthen their emotional regulation, build self-esteem, and re-engage with school life.

“At Health is One, we’re building a more inclusive and responsive system of care – one that recognises individual needs and delivers tailored support that enables every child to thrive. Our whole-system model ensures that support is coordinated across home, school, health and community settings. By bridging the gap between clinical services and everyday life, we’re able to have a positive and lasting impact on children’s school attendance, as well as their health and happiness.”

Last month, Health is One opened a new centre in Swansea offering timely assessment, diagnosis and tailored support plans for neurodivergent children, adults and families.

The Neuropathways Centre is designed to provide earlier identification, faster access to assessments and more joined-up support.

Services include diagnosis, counselling, and post-diagnostic support alongside specialist input for additional learning needs such as speech and language development.