School Anxiety or EBSNA
Your child becomes distressed, overwhelmed or unable to attend school consistently.
PARENT & CARER INFORMATION
Understanding Your Child's Options When Education Becomes Difficult
When your child is struggling with school attendance, anxiety, SEND, confidence, exclusion or disrupted learning, it can be difficult to know what support exists or who you should speak to.
This page explains how personalised education may work, how support is commonly arranged and what families can expect from Reconnect Learning.
THIS PAGE CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND
The questions many families have at the beginning
What personalised education can look like
What EBSNA and school anxiety may look like
How SEND and EHCP needs can affect learning
Who may arrange or fund provision
What happens before support begins
What families can expect from Reconnect Learning
First
Understand
Then
Explore Options
Support
Personalised
Approach
Relationship-Led
Goal
Moving Forward
START WITH WHAT YOU ARE SEEING
You do not need to have all the answers before asking for support
Parents often know that something is wrong long before they understand the educational language around it. Attendance may be dropping, mornings may have become difficult, anxiety may be increasing or your child may have completely lost confidence in learning.
The starting point is understanding what your child is experiencing and what appears to be making education hard for them now.
Our Approach
We begin by understanding what is making education difficult for the child — not by assuming they simply need more pressure to participate.
COMMON FAMILY CONCERNS
Reasons parents and carers may be looking for support
SEND or EHCP Needs
Communication, learning, sensory, attention or emotional needs may be affecting education.
Persistent Absence
Attendance has reduced and getting back to a normal school routine is becoming increasingly difficult.
Exclusion or Placement Breakdown
Your child has been excluded, is at risk of exclusion or no longer has a suitable placement.
Loss of Confidence
Your child may believe they cannot learn, feel embarrassed about being behind or have stopped trying.
Waiting for a Placement
Your child needs education, structure and support while waiting for another suitable setting.
Academic Gaps
Missed education may have created gaps in English, Maths, GCSE subjects or other learning.
Wellbeing & Motivation
Confidence, emotional regulation, relationships or motivation may be creating barriers to learning.
Preparing for the Future
Your child may need support with qualifications, life skills, careers, college or preparation for adulthood.
HOW RECONNECT LEARNING MAY SUPPORT
Different children need different routes back into learning
Provision depends on the child's individual needs, current education arrangements and how the support has been agreed.
Home Tuition
Personalised learning in an agreed home setting where home-based education is suitable.
Home Tuition →Online Learning
Live structured tuition for learners who currently find remote education more manageable.
Online Learning →EBSNA Support
Relationship-led support where anxiety or emotional barriers affect attendance.
EBSNA Support →SEND Support
Adapted education around communication, learning, sensory and regulation needs.
SEND Support →Mental Health & Wellbeing
Education-focused support around confidence, emotional literacy and readiness to engage.
Wellbeing Support →Reconnect 12™
A structured 12-week re-engagement and reintegration pathway.
Reconnect 12™ →Functional Skills
Recognised English and Maths pathways for learners where Functional Skills are suitable.
Functional Skills →GCSE Support
Personalised GCSE tuition where a GCSE pathway remains appropriate.
GCSE Support →Life Skills
Practical learning around communication, organisation, money and independence.
Life Skills →Mentoring & Careers
Confidence, aspiration, college, training and future-planning support.
Mentoring & Careers →Alternative Provision
Personalised education outside all or part of a usual school timetable where a different pathway is needed.
Alternative Provision →Our Programmes
Explore the complete Reconnect Learning education and support offer.
All Programmes →SCHOOL ANXIETY & EBSNA
A child can want an education and still feel unable to attend school
For some children and young people, school attendance becomes linked with significant anxiety or emotional distress. What begins as occasional difficulty may develop into a pattern where simply getting through the school door feels impossible.
Understanding the reasons behind the difficulty is often more helpful than viewing the situation only as refusal.
Read About EBSNA Support →Parents may notice:
Severe anxiety before school
Headaches or stomach aches
Difficulty sleeping before school days
Meltdowns, shutdowns or panic
Fear around lessons, peers or the environment
Attendance becoming progressively harder
A child who learns more successfully away from school
SEND & EHCP INFORMATION
SEND can affect how a child accesses education
Your Child Is More Than a Diagnosis
Children may have needs involving autism, ADHD, communication, literacy, sensory processing, emotional regulation, cognition or physical access.
Personalised education considers how those needs affect the child in real learning situations and what adjustments help them participate.
SEND Support for Parents →Support May Consider
Communication and processing
Learning pace
Attention and organisation
Sensory needs
Emotional regulation
Confidence and engagement
EHCP outcomes where relevant
HOW SUPPORT MAY BE ARRANGED
Different families access support through different routes
School-Arranged Provision
A school may arrange additional tuition, alternative provision, attendance support or reintegration as part of a learner's education plan.
Local Authority Provision
A local authority may commission or arrange education depending on the child's individual circumstances and statutory position.
Parent-Enquired Support
Parents and carers can contact Reconnect Learning to understand the services available and discuss whether a particular route may be appropriate.
GETTING STARTED
What may happen when support is explored
1
Understand
Identify what is happening for the child now.
2
Explore
Consider what type of support may help.
3
Clarify
Establish who may arrange or fund provision.
4
Plan
Review information, safety and outcomes.
5
Begin
Suitable agreed support can start.
WHAT FAMILIES CAN EXPECT
Clear, respectful and professional support
Honest Communication
Clear information about what Reconnect Learning can provide and what sits outside our role.
Personalised Planning
Support designed around the learner's current starting point, needs and agreed outcomes.
Safe Delivery
Relevant safeguarding, risk, location and communication arrangements considered before delivery.
Learner Voice
The child's views and experience can help shape how support develops.
Progress Updates
Reporting and communication follow the arrangements agreed for the package.
Review & Next Steps
Progress can be reviewed to consider continuation, transition or reintegration.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
A different educational route does not mean giving up on achievement
GCSE Support
Targeted GCSE tuition may continue where a GCSE pathway remains appropriate.
Functional Skills
Recognised English and Maths qualifications can provide another pathway for some learners.
Closing Learning Gaps
Teaching can focus on missed content and rebuild confidence gradually.
Individual Pace
Learning can be broken into smaller, more manageable steps.
Exam Readiness
Support may include revision, exam confidence and question practice.
Future Progression
Education can connect with college, training, employment and wider future goals.
MOVING FORWARD
There is more than one successful education pathway
SAFEGUARDING & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Families should understand how their child is kept safe
Safeguarding
Reconnect Learning has named safeguarding leadership and clear procedures for reporting concerns.
Safeguarding →Safer Recruitment
Staff are subject to appropriate checks, references, identity verification and induction.
Policies & Compliance →Home & Online Safety
Relevant risk assessment, professional boundaries and communication expectations support safe delivery.
Attendance
Attendance and missed sessions are recorded through the agreed arrangements for the provision.
Professional Boundaries
Staff work within clear expectations around conduct, communication and relationships with learners.
Policies & Compliance
Families can access key Reconnect Learning policies and compliance information online.
View Policies →Important information about responsibilities and funding
Reconnect Learning is an education and alternative provision provider. We do not make statutory decisions about EHCPs, EOTAS, school placements, exclusions, attendance enforcement or entitlement to funded provision.
A school, local authority or another responsible body may have legal duties or decision-making responsibilities depending on the child's circumstances.
Contacting Reconnect Learning does not automatically confirm that provision has been approved, funded or accepted. Any package must be suitable, safely planned and formally agreed before it begins.
PARENT INFORMATION FAQs
Questions parents and carers often ask
Can I contact Reconnect Learning directly?
Yes. Parents and carers can contact Reconnect Learning to ask about available services and discuss their child's current circumstances.
Does my child need an EHCP?
Not necessarily. Different forms of support have different requirements. An EHCP may be relevant for some learners, but not every child accessing personalised education has one.
Can support take place at home?
Potentially. Home tuition may be appropriate where it is suitable, safely planned and agreed through the relevant route.
Can my child learn online?
Yes, where online tuition is suitable for their needs, access, engagement and safeguarding arrangements.
Can Reconnect Learning support SEND?
Yes. Teaching can be adapted around communication, learning, sensory, attention and regulation needs.
Can you help with school anxiety or EBSNA?
Reconnect Learning provides personalised education, wellbeing, mentoring and reintegration support where EBSNA or school anxiety affects attendance.
Can my child still work towards GCSEs?
Potentially. GCSE support can continue where it remains an appropriate pathway and suitable examination arrangements are in place.
What are Functional Skills?
Functional Skills are recognised English and Maths qualifications that can provide another pathway for some learners.
Who pays for personalised education?
This depends on the child's circumstances and how provision is arranged. Schools, local authorities and families may access services through different routes.
Can Reconnect Learning work with my child's school?
Yes. Where appropriate arrangements are in place, Reconnect Learning can communicate and work alongside schools and other professionals.
Can Reconnect Learning help with reintegration?
Yes. Where suitable, education and support can help a learner work towards increased participation in school or another education setting.
Does contacting Reconnect Learning guarantee a place?
No. Any provision remains subject to suitability, safeguarding, staffing, risk assessment, availability and the relevant commissioning or funding arrangements.