Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Resource Pack

Wexford CYPSC has supported the development of an “Emotionally Based School Avoidance” (EBSA) Resource Pack.

Pictured above : EBSA Steering Group at the EBSA Resource Pack launch, May 31st 2023 in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

This Resource Pack has been compiled by a group of professionals in collaboration with schools all of whom are concerned about the issue of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) in Co. Wexford. When EBSA becomes entrenched, it can have negative impacts on children and young people (CYP) in terms of their mental health and wellbeing. It can also influence educational attainment and can limit future employment opportunities. The impact on families who are trying to support CYP to return to education can also be considerable. This pack was developed to provide information and practical tools on how to address EBSA. It is informed by the experience of professionals who work to support children, including pre-schoolers and young people and their families who have been impacted by EBSA.

Download the EBSA Resource Pack Wexford 2023 (PDF 7 MB)

Below you can download the individual sections of the EBSA Resource Pack:

Information Leaflets

The Wexford EBSA Guidance Group has developed a set of information leaflets targeting children, young people and parents / care-givers. Chick on the images below to access the leaflets.

Additional Resources

Following publication of the EBSA Resource Pack, an Implementation Group was formed to support relevant professionals and parents to develop a practical understanding of EBSA. See below for some of the resources and training that has been developed by the Implementation Group.

What you can do if you notice signs of EBSA with your Child or Young Person : Short Video

Many children and young people can feel anxious or uncertain about going to school for many reasons and emotionally based school avoidance is something that is experienced in many families.

This video offers parents some tips around how to support their child if they struggle with the return to school after holidays or if attending school is difficult for them in general

Download the EBSA Information for Schools Poster

Training and Workshops

Training for School Staff : September 2026

The EBSA Guidance Group facilitated two days of training in September 2026.

On Thursday 17 September, teaching staff from the Primary School sector attended a half day workshop in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. The workshop focused on providing practical advice and assessment tools that could be used with young people experiencing EBSA as well as their parents and the school community.

On Monday 21 September, a similar workshop was delivered. This time the focus was the post-primary sector.

The workshops were well attended, and a lot of positive feedback was provided.

The EBSA Guidance Group have also developed three information leaflets focusing on children, young people and parents / caregivers which were available to workshop attendees. Anyone requiring leaflets, can contact the Wexford CYPSC office at leah.murphy1@tusla.ie.

Breastfeeding Week : October 2026

The Breastfeeding Task Group of Wexford CYPSC organised a number of coffee mornings to celebrate National Breastfeeding Week October 2026. The theme this year was “Every Step Forward, Strengthening Support for Babies and Families”. The coffee mornings were an opportunity for mums and babies to get together to mark this important week and to highlight the positives of breastfeeding for both mother and baby.

The events were supported by the HSE, Cuidiu, La Leche League, Gorey Youth Needs Group and Wexford CYPSC. The library service provided the meeting space in Gorey and other coffee mornings tool place in Kilcannon Garden Centre Enniscorthy, Gorey Youth Needs Group, Brandon House Hotel New Ross, Clonard Community Centre Wexford and Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey.

For more information on Breastfeeding Support available, see the HSE website.

Networking Event for Frontline Workers : Traveller and Roma Community

On Tuesday 28 April, a networking event targeting frontline workers with the Traveller and Roma communities took place in Kilcannon Garden Centre, Enniscorthy. This event was organised by the Traveller / Roma Task Group of Wexford CYPSC.

The work of CYPSC is centred on relationship building and the acknowledgement that by working together we can improve the lives of children and young people. Several projects work in Co. Wexford to support the Traveller and Roma communities. It was recognised that providing an opportunity for networking and relationship building would be very useful in this space and would ultimately result in the provision of improved services.

The event was very well attended and resulted in the following outcomes;

Stronger Working Relationships : Attendees developed new and strengthened existing professional relationships across Roma and Traveller community services.
Clearer Opportunities for Collaboration : Attendees developed a great understanding of each other’s roles and identified clearer opportunities to collaborate in future.
Showcasing of Good Practice : Participants highlighted and shared examples of effective Roma and Traveller Community Work currently taking place.
Improved Communication and Information Sharing : Contact details and service information were exchanged, supporting ongoing communication and collaboration beyond the event.

Event facilitators Debbie O’Rourke (ARC FRC) and Kieran Donohoe (FDYS)

Regina Butler, Youth Officer, WWETB

A further networking meeting took place on September 15 2026 and it is planned to meet bi-annually. The next meeting will focus on services and supports that are available for the Traveller / Roma communities in the 0-6 age cohort. The group are also planning to develop a map of available services and supports.

Training for Professionals : January 2025

On Monday January 20th 2025, EBSA Professionals Training took place for secondary school teachers from around Co. Wexford. Over 40 professionals gathered in Whites Hotel, Wexford for a full days training that was developed and delivered by the EBSA Implementation Group. The training is an interagency response to the rising number of students experiencing EBSA in Co. Wexford.

Participants received a Facilitators Manual and training on how to deliver an EBSA workshop to parents. They were also encouraged to form cluster groups to arrange the delivery of training in their own areas.

The next phase of training will be delivered to Primary School staff in March 2025.

EBSA Implementation Group : L-R Siobhán Cummins (Wexford Co. Childcare Committee), Sineád O'Hara (WWETB), Sheila Barrett (Wexford CYPSC), Amy Goodison (Gorey SCP), Ger O'Connor (Wexford Parents Hub), Anna Marie Cullen (NEPS)

The training day was supported through Wexford CYPSC with funding from the DCEDIY Programme Fund.

The information contained in the Resource Pack is supported by research and grounded in a theoretical framework. Click the link below to access the literature review

Download the EBSA Literature Review (PDF 550 KB)

This project is a collaboration between Wexford CYPSC, Barnardos, CAMHS, CFSN’s, FDYS, HSE, IPPN, NAPD, NEPS, SCP, TESS, WxCCC and YNR