https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo Based on interviews with eight practising Educational Psychologists, these resources were identified as being useful when working with young people, families and schools around issues with Emotionally Based School Avoidance. en-us 2022-09-09 11:40:10 UTC 2025-07-17 13:16:38 UTC hello@padlet.com joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289556992 Motivational Interviewing (MI) Approaches may be helpful when working directly with children and young people. It is important that the ethical principle of beginning the work with no agenda is maintained (i.e. the 'end goal' in MI work may not be for the child to be back at school).

A free Motivational Interviewing webinar is currently available at: https://collegeofwellbeing.com/motivational-interviewing-free-webinar/]]> 2022-09-09 12:10:49 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289556992 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289565970 Dr Tina Rae's book was recommended by EPs due to its theoretical content and photocopiable worksheets (in particular, the 'Sunday Night/Monday Morning' plan and 'The Anxiety Ladder' to use directly with families and children. Dr Rae runs a webinar alongside the materials in the book and her YouTube channel also came highly recommended: 
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrTinaRae

]]> 2022-09-09 12:19:09 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289565970 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289574505 It may be helpful to signpost school staff to online CPD opportunities to learn more about EBSA. Learning and Wellbeing Psychology host an online course available immediately that came recommended:
https://mycpdgroup.com/courses/emotionally-based-school-avoidance/#learndash-course-content]]> 2022-09-09 12:26:21 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289574505 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289583021 Despite 'school refusal' potentially now being an unhelpful term, the SRAS-R may be a useful tool to use with families and school staff during initial discussion around EBSA. Some EPs asked for these scales to be completed ahead of an initial meeting.]]> 2022-09-09 12:32:41 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289583021 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289594516 All EPs interviewed spoke highly of the West Sussex EBSA Guidance documents and extensive toolkit and the generosity of the local authority in sharing this advice and making it available for all to use. It was hailed by one EP as 'The Holy Grail' and another as 'The Bible'! 
https://westsussex.local-offer.org/information_pages/460-ebsa-toolkit-and-appendices]]> 2022-09-09 12:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289594516 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289619852 Scales such as the Beck Youth Inventories and Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA). The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) were also found to be useful in building a picture of children and young people's wellbeing.

See website below for a free version of the RCADS and scoring information:
https://help.greenspacehealth.com/article/50-child-depression-and-anxiety-rcads-25

]]> 2022-09-09 12:56:48 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289619852 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289636764 Lots of EPs found that Personal Construct Psychology techniques such as 'The Ideal School' and 'The Ideal Self' were useful when working with children and young people around EBSA issues to explore what attending school meant for them. One EP trained a parent to use The Ideal School exercise with her son who was, at the time, unable to leave his bedroom. The output was shared at a joint meeting with the school and provided much needed insight into the support that was needed.

More information about The Ideal Safe School exercise can be found here: https://edpsy.org.uk/blog/2020/drawing-the-ideal-safe-school-an-optimistic-approach-to-returning-to-school/

More information about The Ideal School exercise can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/educational-psychology/new_site/resources/JaneWilliams_DECP2016conference.pdf


]]> 2022-09-09 13:08:23 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289636764 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289919811 Several EPs said that they use elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with young people with EBSA. This approach, particularly the DNA-v model (link below) helps young people to explore the relationship between their thoughts and feelings and to uncover motivation to change in line with their values. One EP had adapted the DNA-v approach (information free of charge and available on website below) to use with families in online sessions to enable them to use this approach at home with their child. 
https://dnav.international/dna-v-for-youth/]]> 2022-09-09 15:59:50 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289919811 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289951042 EPs recommended this Resilience Card Deck by Juliet Ttofa to facilitate conversations with families and young people around EBSA and to gain their views.

Buy the card set here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Nurturing-Resilience-Card-Deck-Vulnerable/dp/0367514117/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=lkVIx&content-id=amzn1.sym.31c9090c-9b65-4f91-bf37-04dd92281172&pf_rd_p=31c9090c-9b65-4f91-bf37-04dd92281172&pf_rd_r=W1DVNMXRR2TAVJD047MX&pd_rd_wg=ZA0QC&pd_rd_r=6f69dcaa-38a6-42d1-8f6e-9a69a0e1e59d&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mi]]> 2022-09-09 16:20:39 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289951042 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289963293 EPs found it useful to teach school staff how to use solution circles and one EP had held EBSA solution circles with SENCOs from different settings in order to discuss EBSA difficulties across local authorities. Solution circles were felt to facilitate effective peer supervision. ]]> 2022-09-09 16:28:06 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2289963293 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2291394004 Some EPs recommended this book by Karen Grandison, Louise De-Hayes and M.S. Thambirajah]]> 2022-09-11 20:21:45 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2291394004 joslifipsychology https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2291398403 Some EPs favoured the use of Dynamic Assessment (DA) with students with EBSA to explore change not related to school attendance using games and activities. Modelling mediation through DA with a trusted member of school staff present may be helpful in demonstrating the pace of learning that the student responds best to. This may be particularly helpful where students with EBSA identify classroom learning as a contributory factor to their difficulties attending school. DA sessions aim to leave children and young people with a sense of accomplishment and pride in learning to do something new and may act as a catalyst for positive change in order areas.

The EP Reach Out YouTube Channel has several videos about Dynamic Assessment available to stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqkrhK9q6p0]]> 2022-09-11 20:30:20 UTC https://padlet.com/joslifipsychology/p2yiez5zjtfa6oyo/wish/2291398403