Step by Step EBSA Workbook

School feels hard? You’re not alone. One step at a time. 💛

Step by Step is a gentle, easy-read workbook for children and teens who are finding it really hard to go to school, or to stay there. Guided by Scout, for whom school sometimes feels like a very big mountain to climb, young people work out what is making school hard, share their own ideas about what would help, and build a plan with their grown-ups, one small step at a time.

Created by The SEN Advocate and based on educational psychology guidance on emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), it starts from one simple idea: school gets hard when the worries and stresses are bigger than the help and support. It isn’t naughtiness, laziness or anyone’s fault. There are no wrong answers, spelling doesn’t count, pages can be done in any order, and drawing, ticking, colouring and typing all count.

WHAT’S INSIDE (53 pages)

🏔️ Part 1: Me & School – When School Feels Hard, Myth Busters quiz, All About Me, Strengths & Tricky Bits, The Good Bits

🔍 Part 2: Understanding – My School Story, The Stress & Support Scales, Push & Pull, My School Worry Map, Body Clue Detective, Morning Tracker

🧘 Part 3: My Calm Toolkit – Calm Breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding, Worry Thought Detective, Inner Critic vs Inner Coach, The Calm-Down Café

📋 Part 4: My School Plan – My Ideal School, What Would Help, My Safe Person & Safe Space, Calmer Mornings Plan, My One-Page Profile, cut-out Help Cards

🪜 Part 5: Small Steps – Why Small Steps Help, My Step-by-Step Ladder, Tricky Moments Plan, Wobbly Days, My Proud Jar

📣 Part 6: My Voice & Level Up – My Voice in Meetings, What I Want You to Know, My Support Squad, Look How Far I’ve Come, A Letter to Future Me, and a Step by Step Star Certificate

🧰 The Printable Toolkit – daily check-in, weekly check-in, monthly habit tracker and 8 cut-out Calm Tools Pocket Cards to print again and again

Plus a Note for Grown-Ups on listening first and planning small, agreed steps, and a Where to Get Help page of UK support services.

WHY FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS LOVE IT

✔ Puts the young person’s voice at the centre of the plan
✔ Blame-free for children and for parents
✔ Helps you find the real reasons behind the worry before anyone plans a return
✔ School-ready pages to bring to attendance, SEN Support and EHCP meetings
✔ Small, agreed steps instead of pressure, with a plan for wobbly days
✔ Short, visual, low-writing activities in an easy-read layout
✔ Fill it in on screen or print it out, and reprint favourite pages as often as you like

PERFECT FOR

• Children and teens aged 8–16 who are anxious about school, missing days or lessons, or not attending

• Parents and carers

• Teachers, SENCos, pastoral and attendance staff, ELSAs and teaching assistants

• Educational psychologists, therapists, mentors and support workers

WHAT YOU GET

• 1 fillable PDF file, 53 pages, A4

• Instant digital download, so no physical item will be posted

PLEASE NOTE

This workbook is for understanding, conversation and planning. It is not a diagnostic tool and doesn’t replace professional assessment or support. If you are worried about a young person’s safety or mental health, contact your GP, NHS 111 or emergency services. Written in UK English with UK support services listed.

© 2026 The SEN Advocate. For personal and educational use only. Not for resale or redistribution.