Survey to identify levels of Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance and use of Flexible (Reduced) Timetables

Overview

Overview

As school leaders you will be aware of the increasing levels of pupil absence due to Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA).

The Department is currently working with C2K colleagues to create an absence code specifically for this absence from school.

In the interim, the Department is keen to gauge the levels of absence that can be attributed to any of the conditions that we would envisage as sitting under the EBSNA umbrella.

These include: fear and anxiety (including physical symptoms), complaints of feeling ill without obvious cause, reluctance to leave home, reluctance to transition into school / separate from parent / carer.

Due to this being associated with policy in development all figures submitted will be viewed as ‘indicative’.

The Department are also seeking to identify numbers of pupils who due to absence attributed to EBSNA have been on or are currently on a ‘flexible' or 'reduced’ timetable.

An example of this would be where a pupil attends for an agreed number of classes or for an agreed period of time per day.

Why your views matter

Your participation in this survey is extremely valuable in order to assist DE officials in gauging the extent of the challenges that are faced in schools.

What happens next

The results gleaned from this survey will allow DE officials to have an insight into the numbers of children who have been absent from school due to Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance.

In addition it will assist in gauging the numbers of pupils who are on a flexible (reduced) timetable.