When Attendance Has Broken Down: A Parent’s England Action Path

When a child cannot attend school due to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) or severe distress, the system often responds with pressure rather than support. Parents are frequently told they must bring the child in, accept a reduced timetable, or face attendance fines.

This guide connects the rules, your rights, and the practical steps you can take in England when attendance breaks down. It links to our free tools so you can organise your response without escalating the conflict.

1. Understand the difference between absence and EBSA

EBSA is not truancy. It is a severe difficulty in attending school due to emotional factors, often linked to unmet Special Educational Needs (SEN), anxiety, or an unsuitable school environment.

The Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance, Working together to improve school attendance, states that schools should provide additional support—not punitive measures—when absence is related to a medical condition, SEN, or mental health issue.

2. Secure medical evidence (and what to do if you can't)

Schools and local authorities often demand a doctor’s note to authorise an absence. While medical evidence is helpful, the statutory guidance makes clear that schools should not penalise families while they are waiting for medical support or a diagnosis.

Action: If your child is too distressed to attend, notify the school in writing every day. State clearly that the absence is due to ill health (mental health/anxiety) and keep a record of all correspondence.

3. Challenge unlawful reduced timetables

A reduced (or part-time) timetable must only be used in very exceptional circumstances. It must never be used to manage a child's behaviour or because the school cannot provide the right support.

Crucially, a reduced timetable requires your explicit consent, must have a clear educational objective, and must include a set review date.

View the Reduced Timetable Checklist

4. Ask for Section 19 alternative provision

If your child has been absent for 15 days (consecutive or cumulative) due to illness, the local authority has a legal duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to arrange suitable, full-time alternative education. This applies whether your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or not.

View the EBSA Attendance Action Map

5. Respond to attendance fines

Penalty notices (fines) are designed for unauthorised absences, such as term-time holidays. They are not the correct response to EBSA. The statutory guidance states that fines should not be used if the absence is related to a disability or health need, and where support has not been provided.

View the Attendance Fines Guide

6. Put it in writing

Verbal agreements are easily forgotten. When you are asking for support, challenging a timetable, or requesting alternative provision, you must create a written trail.

Draft a free support-request letter

Where to go from here

You do not have to fight every battle today. Start by reading the Attendance Action Map to understand the landscape. Then, choose one practical step—whether that is writing to the SENCO, preparing for a timetable review, or asking the GP for support.

Written for The EBSA & SEN Hub. This guide is general information for families in England and does not replace individual clinical or legal advice.