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The EBSA support thread (emotionally based school avoidance/absence)

1000 replies

BrambleyHedge · 08/02/2024 09:21

Following this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4996315-a-question-to-all-those-who-think-school-refusal-in-schools-is-increasing-due-to-lazy-enabling-parents?latest=1

I wondered if some people would welcome an EBSA support thread. I haven't seen another one so if there is already one I can delete this one. For those dealing with EBSA - I don't know about you but sometimes I just want to cry and scream with all the stress and I thought it might be healthier to write it down and share with others going through similar issues.

My son is 15 yr 11 and is currently upstairs refusing to go to his mock GCSE this morning. He is too anxious. He is only doing 5 GCSEs and has small group tutoring in his school rather than the normal classes. There are several in his year with EBSA so they have their own group. He is finally being assessed for ASD after 2.5 years in CAMHs list and also finally being assessed for EHCP after mediation due to council refusal to assess. He is what they used to call high functioning but unable to deal with education. I am practically in tears this morning trying to get him to go in. He usually doesn't go in until about 11 so this is early. He doesn't sleep.

So enough about me. If you too are having a crappy morning then please talk.

It would be good if this thread can be for those who are dealing with EBSA. Well meant advice or judgement from others may not always be welcome or helpful. I have tried literally everything over the last two years to get my son to school and am learning much of this is beyond my control. Sometimes there just isn't an answer.

I have put this in Chat for now so it gets seen. It could fit in education, SEN, or some other subjects.

A question to all those who think school refusal in schools is increasing due to lazy, enabling parents... | Mumsnet

The question I always have is why? Why would we choose this? I hear all the time that it's all our fault, it's just parents letting them ge...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4996315-a-question-to-all-those-who-think-school-refusal-in-schools-is-increasing-due-to-lazy-enabling-parents?latest=1

OP posts:
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RainbowZebraWarrior · 26/03/2024 09:57

"He says along the lines, you need to stop knocking on closed doors. continuously trying methods, routines that don't work and often do more harm than good. It's about the parent changing how they look upon the problem.
This struck a very important chord with me, when you can let go of how you think other people , teachers, etc are judging you, with no real knowledge themselves about the situation, with zero help, support and understanding. When you are confident enough to think ok, enough is enough, we need to think about a different route, we need to draw a line, and have faith we will eventually find out own way, that's when things change in a positive manner"

I think this is where I'm at, now. Dealing with school has taken every ounce of my energy. CAMHS have been inconsistent, SaLT has been excellent, but OT has been an abomination.

OT have currently set DD a 'goal' to get the train into the city by herself. She's 12, Autistic, with Anxiety and Situational Mutism. She agreed, but doesn't actually want to (surprisingly) Fucks sake! They alternate between insinuating I'm being overly protective and borderline neglectful. It's a clusterfuck of misunderstanding and gaslighting.

I was just sitting browsing private psychologists near me. Thinking of paying for some specialist knowledge, when I thought, No! This is what is exhausting about it all. The constant trying to engage with too many specialists, expecting DD to engage when she's bloody exhausted. No. We are better off muddling through together. Home is her safe space, she has me to talk to. She rarely engages with specialists anyway (and when she does, she just tells them what they want to hear to make them go away)

It sort of reminds me of my own experiences of therapy. I just end up agreeing to make the therapist feel like they are doing a good job.

Luddite26 · 26/03/2024 20:55

I have just listened on Spotify to the podcast
Behind the mother mask episode 32 my child is not FINE at school with Dr. Naomi Fisher. I know this has already been mentioned but I found it really supportive and sensible talking!
Worth a listen to get a perspective on your situation which is different to the one pedalled out by schools etc.

Sunrisemouse · 27/03/2024 15:01

Since Christmas we had worked up to 1 hr a day, but my DD is back to not being able to go in. With school support we have not tried to go in this week and will have the next two weeks easter break off as well.

School have ran out of ideas and they are subtlety suggesting home schooling, which is not an option for us at present and I know its not something they should do. They have said that they will support an EHCP request which I will put in.

My job is now at risk which is a big worry as I am the main bread winner so we are now looking to sell up and move to a cheaper area in case I am let go.

It's never ending.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Piony · 28/03/2024 07:54

That's a really interesting perspective @RainingCatsandfrogs and @RainbowZebraWarrior . It is hard to get the confidence to go it alone though when everything feels broken.

Last day of term. Never an easy one, but I hope the Easter hols bring you and your young people some respite.

Piony · 28/03/2024 10:09

@Sunrisemouse that must be so difficult. You're doing well still to be working. That ship sailed for us a while back, it feels.

BrambleyHedge · 29/03/2024 09:30

I hope everyone has a restful break.

OP posts:
DarkChocHolic · 29/03/2024 11:30

@BrambleyHedge
You too.
I breathed a sigh of relief when i sent an email to the attendance staff at DDs school yesterday about yesterday afternoon's absence (first name terms with her now).

One less thing to do for 2 weeks..
Xx

Stripedpanda · 29/03/2024 15:33

@DarkChocHolic
I also know all the office staff at DD’s school and really shouldn’t! Hope everyone has a break. I keep trying to think this is a phase and not forever (even though it bloody feels like forever!).

shearwater2 · 02/04/2024 17:03

I deregistered DD2 from school towards the end of last term after she finally agreed that school was not working. Now Y10, we've been struggling with EBSA since about Day 2 of Y7. DD2 has been diagnosed with ASD, ADHD (combined) and anxiety - about a year ago.

I don't know if she will get on with doing 3 x GCSEs via online school but we'll see. It's amazing not to be emailing the school on a daily basis and going to meetings every few weeks, and having constant worry about fines and prosecution, but at the same time it was a bit emotional sending the deregistration letter.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 02/04/2024 17:16

Yes the relief of not contacting every day is insurmountable.

Mines taking baby steps to an ND 6th form( very very baby steps)

Fortunately we had a really good Ed pysch report which states what she needs.

He said he’s been overwhelmed with burnt out teen girls. He’d never known anything like it.

Luddite26 · 02/04/2024 18:43

shearwater2 · 02/04/2024 17:03

I deregistered DD2 from school towards the end of last term after she finally agreed that school was not working. Now Y10, we've been struggling with EBSA since about Day 2 of Y7. DD2 has been diagnosed with ASD, ADHD (combined) and anxiety - about a year ago.

I don't know if she will get on with doing 3 x GCSEs via online school but we'll see. It's amazing not to be emailing the school on a daily basis and going to meetings every few weeks, and having constant worry about fines and prosecution, but at the same time it was a bit emotional sending the deregistration letter.

There is a group on Facebook called HEFA - the Heart of Home Education they do podcasts which are pretty inspiring. They may help you along a bit now you have taken the deregister plunge; it can feel daunting once the relief has gone. I am currently listening to a few when I get chance and am finding so many stories of children's anxiety with school so sad. A lot answer the doubts that so many people have I'm finding them pretty inspiring.
You maybe don't feel like getting in too deep with your dd being in y10 but they can help you feel like you are not alone - others have trod this path.
My DD when she was that age on leaving school spent a lot of time calming her anxiety with paper crafting.
I don't mean to make that sound as though everything was rosie it's just if you think they aren't doing enough work hobbies like that or baking or walking (anything really) can be classed as their work. Hope it suits your daughter better and she can build herself up again.x

shearwater2 · 03/04/2024 02:37

Thanks @Luddite26. I've been in that group for a year or more and it can be very helpful.

Luddite26 · 03/04/2024 07:03

shearwater2 · 03/04/2024 02:37

Thanks @Luddite26. I've been in that group for a year or more and it can be very helpful.

Hope things get better for you and your daughter can feel some relief from the attendance pressure. Fingers crossed.

BrambleyHedge · 04/04/2024 18:02

A small relief today (apart from not having to attempt the morning wake-up) is that we've been told the draft EHCP will be sent out tomorrow and will also go to the colleges he has applied to for next year. So I feel we are a bit more on the radar now. Hope everyone is having a restful Easter break.

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 05/04/2024 11:15

That sounds like progress @BrambleyHedge.
I was wondering how you were all doing and whether you feel the GCSEs are looming . So the EHCP must be a timely welcome? Will it help with exams?

DarkChocHolic · 05/04/2024 12:51

@BrambleyHedge
That's good news on the ehcp.
Hope it has useful things included in it.
Xx

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 05/04/2024 13:41

@BrambleyHedge

That's great. I can't recall sorry but have you contacted the LA to see if you can get tutors to come ti the house for core subjects? Or is he not in that frame of mind?

Iloveshihtzus · 07/04/2024 15:09

Hi all, just getting in early with support for everyone for tomorrow, supposedly back to school here, although I am not even going to broach it with DS. DS2 will of course be going to school so I will be back in the routine, but I have decided not to mention it to DS1.

There is only 4 weeks of official schooling left, then exams, then holidays. We may have found him a summer job, so I hope that comes off. He would love that. I am looking for options for next year - it is his final year of school. He is in private school but I resent the money we are spending when he has not attended in 3 months, and was only in for 20% of the time before that. I don’t know whether a new school would help at this point, and DS doesn’t want to move. So, I will see if he attends at all in next 4 weeks and then see where we go.

Luddite26 · 07/04/2024 15:23

@Iloveshihtzus although things don't seem great your post seems really positive. Hopefully the summer job comes off and your son can gain some confidence again in himself. Sometimes the positivity and encouragement from others can jolt a refuser out of whatever it is they are in. All hope is never lost. Just because y11 is the norm for taking GCSEs they can be done any time and young people aren't right offs if they just can't manage 'the norm'. Good luck with the coming weeks.

BrambleyHedge · 14/04/2024 23:31

Hope the start of term isn't too bad for those of you trying to get children to go tomorrow... thinking of you.

OP posts:
DarkChocHolic · 15/04/2024 06:33

My DD was calm and cheerful and full of intention to go full time table from today.
When I went to bed, I must admit I thought she was a bit too upbeat.
Bless her, at 5.00 am she was by my bed crying. She has been up all night unable to sleep and feeling suicidal.
She said she got through to Shout chat after 2 hours but then they closed the chat.
I have no heart to wake her up in an hour.

Hugs to everyone who needs a shoulder to cry on today.
Our turn will come.
Xx

DarkChocHolic · 15/04/2024 08:14

And we have done the absence form for the day 😞
On the merry go round again.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 15/04/2024 08:26

Good luck to all those enduring the return (or supposed return) today. I relate to so many of these posts.

The optimism and intention the night before, us allowing ourselves to hope but then them being racked with fear and anxiety when it comes to it. We just have to go with it and support whilst feeling so crushed ourselves. Sometimes I think it's better not to have that hood in the first place for self protection.

I am grateful for an inset day today but tomorrow will come around quickly.

I had a long drive yesterday and got about half way through an audiobook called 'girl unmasked'. For anyone on here who's DC is Autistic or on the pathway then I thought it was great. I have read lots of books re EBSA and autism, but this one is written by someone who is still only 22 and gives a brilliant (and sometimes heartbreaking) account of quite a lot of her school life and how it made her feel. I think a lot of it would apply to both sexes.

Wishing everyone strength and courage.

megletthesecond · 15/04/2024 08:40

Absence email sent. She's missing yr10 mocks this week. It's such a disaster.

EvenStillIWantTo · 15/04/2024 08:55

Funny that this thread is at the top of my I'm On list today.

I'm so low. We are all so low. DD is autistic and absolutely fine outside of school, but her anxiety around school has meant she's barely been since the second term of first year.

She really has no proper insight into herself: we had a call with her consultant recently where she said she was fine, and school was no problem, making me out to be some sort o hysterical mother. She was prescribed Prozac which I don't think she really needs, but we have to try something to get her through the damn door.

I woke up feeling sick at 5am, she was up at 6am getting ready, by 7.30 she was crying, I was crying, and now she's off to her grans for the day, because I simply cant let her just sit in her room every day instead of going to school.

They provide her literally no education, we've had multiple meetings where they say all the right things, but no work is ever put online for her.

I think we need some sort of educational statement for her, but I don't know how it works in Scotland so am going to look into that today.

There's just no help is there. I feel really lost with it all today. I wish I could pause life for a month so I could just breathe and focus on finding some sort of workable solution. But I can't, and I don't think there is one anyway.

Feel pretty broken today really.

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