Invitation to Parent Carers of Children and Young People with SEND Experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
We know that when a child or young person is experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), it can have a huge impact on the whole family. As parent carers, we are often trying to support our children’s mental health and wellbeing while also holding everything else together day to day.
That’s why we’re inviting parent carers of children and young people with SEND experiencing EBSA to join us for a supportive event in June.
This will be a chance to:
· Meet other parent carers who understand the EBSA journey
· Chat over a cup of tea and refreshments in a welcoming space
· Access support and signposting from SGPC Peer Support and SEND and You
· Speak with professionals from relevant organisations
We will be joined by representatives from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, including a Primary Mental Health Specialist, as well as a representative from Off the Record (OTR) Mental Health Support Team (MHST). They will be available to talk about the support and services they can offer to families and schools.
As part of the event, you’ll also have the chance to watch two of our EBSA videos before they are released on our website:
Parent Wellbeing: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This video looks at using Acceptance Commitment Therapy as a tool to enhance wellbeing, helping you as a parent to manage the difficult thoughts and feelings which your child's EBSA journey may raise.
Emotion Coaching: This video looks at using Emotion Coaching as a way to help support your child or young person through strong emotions.
These resources share helpful information and current thinking around supporting mental health and wellbeing. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to access video 6 in the series, Recovery to Rediscovery, ahead of its wider release.
More than anything, we hope this event gives you a chance to feel supported, valued and understood. A small goodie bag will also be available for you to take away as a thank you for everything you do.
A gentle advisory: There will not be a member of the Educational Psychology team present at this event. We must also advise that the professionals present, will not be able to discuss the presentation with families, as this has been drafted by the Educational Psychology team.
Wednesday 10th June 10:00am - 12:30pm
St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, BS334 9PD (map)
We understand that many of you may have children and young people currently not in education who may need to attend with you. Please book a child ticket for them alongside your own ticket.
What is the Can’t not won’t series?
These videos are part of our ongoing work raising the profile of EBSA.
SGPC and the South Glos Educational Psychology team have teamed up to create a series of video guides designed specifically for parent carers on the topic of emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
The first two videos in the series are available to watch on our website. Each is accompanied by a handout with links to further information and support.
These videos will give information on EBSA, starting with the Psychology of EBSA including working with schools through to Recovery to Rediscovery.
There has been a lot of work that has been happening over the past few years to provide information and training to professionals including the creation of the EBSA Toolkit which all schools in South Glos can access.
We have a project page where we share details of the work that has been happening: Raising the Profile of EBSA
March 2026