How to support anxious learners and reduce persistent non-attendance

How to support anxious learners and reduce persistent non-attendance

Feeling under pressure to do well at school can increase anxiety and lead to poor pupil physical and mental health. This can cause absences from school and make it even harder to keep up with the work.

Some young people put themselves under pressure, while for others it's the weight of family expectations that makes them anxious to achieve.

In this blog we explore five effective strategies schools can adopt to help students stay mentally and physically healthy, so they keep attending school.

Anxiety to do well can increase the risk of school avoidance

Anxiety about homework, lessons and exams can put students at risk of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

Even students who do not appear to be worried about getting good results could be experiencing anxiety, and they cope by disengaging from school altogether.

Early intervention is key to keeping pupils on track and in school, so if you are worried about a pupil, speak to them and find out what might be going on with them.

Signs that could indicate a student is at risk of EBSA:

• Desire to avoid a particular subject they find difficult or teacher they find challenging
• Worries about missed learning and feeling it will be impossible to catch up
• Fear of disappointing parents, relatives, and themselves
• Anxiety about being moved down a set and not being with friends
• Fear of being considered too keen to work hard
• Not wanting to get answers wrong in class in front of teachers or other pupils
• Inability to complete homework correctly and on time
• Worries about getting the grades needed for future studies and careers

Five ways to boost the attendance of anxious learners

1. Break the cycle of missed learning

When a child starts to avoid school because they are stressed about schoolwork, they miss out on even more learning, which increases their anxiety. Try not to focus on the missed time, instead highlight what essential learning they need to focus on to catch up.

It is a good idea to create a realistic home learning plan with the student so they can learn to manage their time effectively. That way they won’t feel overwhelmed by a backlog of tasks and will be less worried re-engaging with school.

2. Normalise stress

Exams and end of year tests can be anxious times for pupils. This is normal and does not necessarily mean they suffer from anxiety.

Explain a certain level of stress is completely normal and if handled well it can even help them perform better

Some schools run mental health workshops closer to exam times to help with pupil anxiety.

3. Managing change

Moving up through school can be a trigger for EBSA, particularly if students don’t feel they are performing well or getting the same results as their friends.

Support secondary school children in making realistic plans for the next step in their studies or career and help them understand what they need to do to get there.

Help Year 6 children get ready for transition by showing them what to expect at their new school. Reassure them that their new teachers are there to help them get where they need to be.

4. Keep everyone well

Feeling stressed and anxious about schoolwork and exams can make some pupils feel physically unwell enough to not come into school.

It can be a good idea to remind everyone about eating healthily and getting enough exercise and sleep. Encourage them to continue with the activities they enjoy so they can take a break from studying.

5. Focus on strengths

A student already feeling under pressure to do well can react badly to feedback designed to help them improve. If this is the case, focus on the child's strengths and what is going well first, before moving on to areas for development.

If they haven't reached their target mark yet, reassure them that they are working towards it. Putting together a homework plan for the rest of the term if they have already missed a lot of school, or finding extra opportunities for them to understand exam techniques can help.

Research from the Centre for Social Justice suggests anxiety is the biggest driver behind the recent drop in school attendance. Talk through any negative thoughts they might be having and point out areas where they are managing anxiety and coping well.

Spotting the signs, a student is struggling with complex emotional and social issues and putting the right interventions in place is crucial to breaking the cycle of persistent non-attendance.