EBSA Training Boosts Confidence for Wirral Parents and Carers

: Cath and Mel representing the steering group of PCPW during the latest EBSA workshop

Parents and carers in Wirral say they feel more confident and supported after taking part in new training.

The training helps families understand and support children who find it hard to go to school because of emotional reasons. This is called Emotional Barriers to School Attendance (EBSA).

The training was run by Wirral Council and Parent Carer Participation Wirral (PCPW). It helps families learn more about EBSA and how to support their child.

What is EBSA?

EBSA stands for Emotional Barriers to School Attendance. It means a child or young person finds it hard to go to school because of emotional reasons. This can include feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed.

A Partnership Approach

The training was made for parents and carers. It was based on research and ideas from local families. Wirral Council’s Educational Psychology Team led the sessions. They are part of Wirral’s EBSA Strategy. This strategy aims to give kind and consistent support to children and young people with EBSA.

Parent Carer Participation Wirral (PCPW) helped design and deliver the training. Their real-life experience made the sessions useful and easy to understand.

How the Training Helped Families

Before the training, many parents and carers said they felt alone and unsure how to help their child. They wanted advice and support.

After the training, families said they felt more confident and hopeful.

“It was packed full of information and I have found this so hopeful. It has given me hope and support, and will definitely give me more confidence going forward.”

“I felt not alone. It was good to feel what I have been doing to support my child was correct... I felt reassured I have a good understanding of all of my child’s needs and why there is EBSA.”

All parents and carers who attended said they would recommend the training to others.

 A Safe Space to Learn and Share

Families said the sessions were kind and helpful. They liked being able to share their stories and learn from others.

“Very informative. No judgement. Very comforting listening to others openly sharing ideas, hints and tips.”

 Join Future EBSA Training

Due to the success of the sessions, more parental EBSA training has been planned. To find out what dates are available and to register for a place, keep an eye on PCPW’s Facebook page. You can also see the new dates on SENDLO’s What’s on page.