EBSA Written Support
£39
Tell us what is happening and receive personalised written guidance about your situation and practical next steps.
Usually returned within 5 working days.
Get Written SupportBack to all support options
EBSA & School Attendance Support
Support when your child is struggling to attend school, attendance is falling, or you need help evidencing what is really happening. Choose the level of help you need.
Pick an option below and you’ll see exactly what you need to provide before you pay or book - then you get a confirmation with your reference and next steps.
EBSA Evidence Review
£49
Already gathered evidence? Send it to us and receive a personalised review identifying strengths, gaps, questions and practical next steps.
Usually returned within 5 working days.
Review My EvidenceWhat is EBSA, and how is it different from school refusal?
Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) describes difficulty attending school because of anxiety or distress. The phrase “school refusal” can suggest deliberate choice; EBSA recognises that a child may want to attend but feel unable to manage the distress involved.
Families are frequently asked for proof of something that happens behind closed doors. That is where careful, consistent recording makes the difference.
Evidence gathering for attendance difficulties
Written support takes you through what to record and how: attendance patterns, morning presentation, attempts to attend, your child’s voice, what school sees compared with what happens at home, recovery time, sensory factors, what has been tried, and a clear chronology.
Who can help, and what support is available here?
Parents may seek help from their school or SENCO, health professionals, their local SEND information, advice and support service, charities, or an independent practitioner. Book Simplified Support offers a defined written response, evidence review or one-to-one appointment with Jess.
When school attendance links to an EHCP or being out of education
Attendance difficulties often sit alongside an EHCP request, an existing plan, or a child who is not accessing education at all. If that is your situation, the EHCP and EOTAS pages cover the support available for those routes.
Books, public guidance and ongoing tracking
For the book and broader public guides, visit Unmasking EBSA. If you need an ongoing Support Plan and tracking platform rather than one defined piece of personalised help, use EBSA Simplified Support.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers to the questions parents ask most about this support.
What is EBSA?
Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) is when a child cannot attend school because of anxiety or distress — not because they are choosing not to go. It often builds slowly: reluctance, then missed days, then longer absences. It is a recognised response to overwhelm, not truancy.
Is my child just refusing to go to school?
No. A child in EBSA is usually desperate to cope and masking the struggle at school, then collapsing at home. The gap between what school sees and what happens behind closed doors is one of the clearest signs, and it is exactly the kind of evidence that helps your case.
What does “masking” mean?
Masking is when a child hides their distress to get through the day — holding it together at school, then releasing it at home where they feel safe. It can make the difficulty invisible to teachers, which is why consistent home recording matters so much.
What evidence should I start collecting now?
Keep a simple daily record: morning presentation, attempts to attend, what school sees versus home, recovery time, sensory triggers, your child’s own words, and what has been tried. A clear chronology is far more powerful than a long list of incidents.
How quickly can Jess help?
Written support is usually returned within 5 working days, and Ask Jess questions within 2 working days. You can also book a call for a same-week conversation. Each option shows its turnaround before you pay or book.
Can Jess contact my school or Local Authority for me?
Not through this page. Jess gives you evidence, strategy and written guidance to use yourself. She does not act as your representative, attend meetings, or manage your case ongoing — those boundaries keep the support clear and affordable. See our terms of service for full detail.
What this does not include
Book Simplified Support gives you practical, defined help while you remain in control of your case. To keep expectations clear, it does not include:
- • Solicitor or other legal representation
- • Representation at a SEND Tribunal or other hearing
- • Unlimited or ongoing case management
- • Automatic communication with your school or Local Authority
- • A diagnosis or clinical assessment
- • A guaranteed outcome
- • A promise that an EHCP will be issued
Prefer to manage this yourself? Our free digital assistants at Free Simplified Support can help you do it your way.
Already working with Simplified Support?
If you have active casework with us, you may not need to purchase additional Book Simplified Support services for something already included within your existing work. Please use your usual contact route if you are unsure.