Inspection-Ready Attendance: From Compliance to Strategic Advantage
2 dates
£185.00
+ VATEBSA Conference 2026: Practical Solutions for Real Change
Live Online
1 date
£185.00
+ VAT
Live Online
1 date
£185.00
+ VAT EBSA Conference 2026: Practical Solutions for Real Change
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is one of the fastest growing and most complex challenges facing schools today. Increasing numbers of children and young people are struggling with anxiety, neurodiversity, sensory overwhelm, trauma and emotional distress, leaving schools under increasing pressure to balance attendance expectations, inclusion responsibilities and positive relationships with families.
This specialist one day conference is designed to help schools move beyond managing absence and towards understanding the underlying needs driving EBSA. Combining current research, frontline expertise and practical strategies, the conference provides approaches that can be implemented immediately within educational settings.
Led by experienced practitioners and specialists, the conference explores the key factors underpinning EBSA, including anxiety cycles, attachment, trauma, neurodiversity, sensory processing, school culture and family dynamics. Delegates will develop a clearer understanding of why EBSA develops, why traditional approaches often fail and how schools can respond more effectively to improve engagement, reduce conflict and support sustainable reintegration.
Through keynote presentations, case studies, practical tools and collaborative discussion, participants will strengthen their approaches to relational practice, emotional regulation, co-regulation, environmental adaptation, parent collaboration and multi-agency working. The conference will also explore how schools can build greater consistency, flexibility and emotional safety across whole school systems.
Delegates will leave with increased confidence, evidence informed strategies and practical tools to support children and young people experiencing persistent and complex attendance difficulties.
Whether supporting emerging concerns or more complex and persistent EBSA cases, this conference will strengthen your ability to respond compassionately, collaboratively and effectively to the pupils and families who need it most.
Understand the key drivers behind Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), including anxiety, neurodiversity, attachment, trauma and school-based stressors and why traditional attendance approaches often fail.
Develop practical, evidence informed strategies to reduce anxiety driven absence, strengthen emotional safety and support sustainable reintegration.
Strengthen whole school approaches to inclusion, relational practice and environmental adaptation that improve engagement, belonging and attendance.
Improve support for neurodivergent pupils by recognising the impact of sensory overwhelm, cognitive load, demand anxiety and emotional dysregulation.
Build confidence in working collaboratively with parents, carers and multi-agency professionals to reduce conflict, strengthen trust and improve outcomes.
Explore effective approaches for supporting pupils presenting with PDA, ODD, emotionally based distress and persistent patterns of avoidance or dysregulation.
Identify early intervention and assessment approaches that help schools recognise barriers to attendance, reduce escalation and respond more effectively to emerging concerns.
Leave with practical tools, adaptable frameworks and implementation strategies that can be applied immediately across a range of school settings and levels of need.
This conference is suitable for headteachers, deputy headteachers, teachers, SENCo/ALNCo staff, attendance leads and attendance officers, education welfare officers, pastoral leads, mental health leads, safeguarding leads, family liaison officers, family support workers, classroom assistants, learning support assistants, and wider inclusion and support staff.
BSc (Hons), QTS, MEd, MA
Karen is currently working part-time in a mainstream Primary School as SENDCO, while the remaining part of her week is spent supporting and training. Karen started teaching science at a... mainstream secondary school in 2000 but moved into the SEND environment, working with children and parents to help them overcome their barriers to education to give them the skills to achieve their full potential. The majority of her training was on the job, which showed the need for training in this area. She was appointed as a Specialist Leader in Education for Autism, and this allowed her to disseminate good practice and deliver training in the field of SEND. Karen offers various SEND, Neurodivergent and condition specific training, including Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia. She has continued her professional development throughout the years, including a Master in Arts, Master in Education, Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism and PDA formal qualifications. She is currently working towards her NPQSEN. Karen believes that a better understanding of SEND, Neurodivergence and complex needs can be achieved through information sharing, and she is committed to ensuring that education is developed and delivered to as many people as possible.
Kelly puts wellbeing at the heart of education. She is an award-winning motivational
speaker and school improvement advisor, published author and founder of ‘Family
Matters’ empower...ment programme.
Kelly has worked systemically with some of the most challenging communities,
helping families thrive in difficult circumstances. She advises in the development of
staff wellbeing to improve teacher retention and embeds purposeful strategies to
support School Leader’s emotional health. Kelly is an advocate for Senior Mental
Health Leads and helps drive school development processes forward, whilst creating
outstanding outcomes and awards for many organisations. She is a trailblazer within
the Wellbeing Lead Network for supporting pastoral teams. Her work is recognised
by the DfE, NCB, The Anna Freud Centre and The Education Support Partnership as
a lead influencer of mental health and wellbeing in education.
Kelly is currently leading on the DFE Wellbeing for Education Return Programme
within Kent County Council.
MA, NPQSL, SENDCo Accreditation
Laura is an experienced educator with over 20 years in the field and a Master’s in Expert Teaching. A former senior leader with responsibility for SEND and inclusion, she brings extensi...ve expertise in supporting children and young people with additional needs. Laura holds the NASENCo Level 7 qualification, IPSEA Level 3 SEND Law training, and the NPQSL in Educational Leadership. Specialising in expert SEND tuition, private screenings, EBSA support, and home education, Laura provides personalised support for children and families across Lancaster, Morecambe, and Heysham. Her services include bespoke tuition, curriculum design, SEND and EBSA mentoring, and advocacy for children with SEND and learning differences.
Matt Bromley is an education writer and advisor with over twenty years’ experience in teaching and leadership including as a secondary school headteacher and principal, FE college vice ...principal, and MAT director. Currently, Matt is a public speaker, trainer, school improvement lead, and a primary school governor. He also remains a practising teacher, working in secondary, FE and HE settings, and is the lead lecturer on a national ITT programme. Matt writes for various newspapers and magazines including SecEd, Headteacher Update, SEN Leader, TES, School Business Manager Magazine, Children & Young People Now, Attendance Matters Magazine, and School Inspection & Improvement Magazine. He sits on SecEd’s editorial board and co-hosts their award-winning podcast, as well as writes most of their monthly pull-out best practice supplements.
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Stay at home, get comfortable and enjoy our live interactive course via Zoom! You’ll receive the link a few days before the conference date so you can get prepared (and excited) ahead of time.
View 1 date & book
Thursday 15 October 2026
