School Anxiety and Attendance Difficulties
Supporting children whose worries are affecting school life
For some children, worries about school can gradually become overwhelming.
What may begin as occasional anxiety can sometimes develop into frequent distress, reluctance to attend school or significant emotional exhaustion.
School anxiety is rarely about unwillingness to learn. More often, it reflects a child who is struggling to manage feelings of stress, overwhelm or uncertainty.
Signs a Child May Be Struggling
Children experiencing school-related anxiety may:
Frequently complain of headaches or stomach aches
Become distressed before school
Have difficulty sleeping
Seek excessive reassurance
Show increasing anxiety on Sunday evenings
Become withdrawn or irritable
Avoid school-related conversations
Experience reduced confidence
Struggle with friendship issues
Find transitions particularly difficult
For some children, these difficulties may contribute to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
A Compassionate, Solution-Focused Approach
My work helps children understand how their brains respond to stress and anxiety.
Rather than focusing on problems in depth, we focus on helping children:
Recognise signs of stress and overwhelm
Build confidence and resilience
Strengthen emotional regulation skills
Develop practical coping strategies
Notice progress and success
Reconnect with hope and possibility
Working with Families and Schools
Where appropriate, support may include collaboration with parents, schools and other professionals.
Children benefit most when everyone involved understands the difficulties they are experiencing and works together towards positive change.
Autism and School Anxiety
Some autistic children experience heightened anxiety around uncertainty, social demands, sensory challenges or change.
Support is tailored to the needs of the individual child and aims to build confidence while respecting neurodiversity.
Contact
If you are concerned about a child who is struggling with school anxiety or attendance difficulties, I would be happy to discuss whether support may be helpful.