When Anxiety Keeps a Child from School: Support in Wales
If a child’s anxiety makes school feel impossible, you are not alone, and you are not without options. In Wales, the law and local support systems recognise that emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) is not defiance or “naughtiness,” but a sign that something deeper needs to be understood and addressed with care. Many families feel overwhelmed, especially when school staff seem unsure or when anxiety escalates at home. This guide is for you, a gentle roadmap through a tough moment, filled with practical steps and reassurance.
🛑 How Do I Get My Child Referred to CAMHS in Wales?
This is one of the most common questions parents ask, and the answer depends slightly on where you live and what your child's current education setting is.
In Wales, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) referrals can be made by:
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Your GP (this is still the most common route)
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Your child’s school (via the ALNCo or school counsellor)
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Your school nursing team
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A social worker, if your family is involved with social care
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Occasionally, by hospital consultants or paediatricians
Some Health Boards (like Aneurin Bevan) have a Single Point of Access system (e.g. SPACE-Wellbeing), where professionals, and sometimes parents, can complete a shared referral form. We’ll cover area-specific routes in a future post.
Can parents self-refer?
In most parts of Wales, direct parent self-referral is not accepted. A professional must make the referral, but you can and should ask your school and/or GP to do this.
We strongly recommend asking both, and doing so in writing (email is fine). This gives you a paper trail in case school attendance issues arise later — and protects you if you’re contacted by an Education Welfare Officer.
CAMHS referral routes by setting:
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Mainstream school pupils: Ask the school’s ALNCo or pastoral lead to refer.
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FE college students: Most colleges have mental health teams. If not, consult your GP.
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Electively Home Educated (EHE): Contact your GP or school nurse team.
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EOTAS learners: Your LA’s EOTAS team or linked therapist can initiate a referral with your GP.
What happens at age 18?
At 18, care transfers to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). If your child has an Individual Development Plan (IDP), transition support should be built into it. For students entering university, a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) may be available to fund mental health support.
CAMHS Support: What Does It Involve?
CAMHS teams provide:
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Assessments
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Medication where appropriate
If your child struggles to attend school, CAMHS may coordinate with staff to ease transitions or offer in-reach support in the classroom. They also help with strategies to manage anxiety at home. Sessions may take place in the clinic, by video call, or occasionally at home.
If medication is prescribed, schools must follow a healthcare plan. This is called an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) and is usually coordinated by the school nurse, ALNCo, or pastoral lead. Parents remain closely involved. If your child has an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for ALN, this healthcare plan can be attached or referenced within it.
🌳 What If Your Child Is in Crisis?
If your child is in immediate danger (for example, has taken an overdose, is missing or actively attempting to self-harm), call 999 or go straight to A&E. You are not overreacting. Getting help quickly can save lives.
For urgent mental health help that isn’t an emergency:
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NHS 111 Wales (Option 2) – 24/7 crisis line: dial 111, then press 2
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Papyrus HOPELINEUK – Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 039967
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Childline – 0800 1111 (confidential for under-19s)
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CALL Helpline Wales – 0800 132 737 (bilingual, 24/7)
You can also reach out to your CAMHS duty worker if your child is already under their care, or ask your GP for an urgent appointment. If you’re unsure what to do, start by calling 111 and asking for advice.
🏫 What About School Fines?
This part worries many families. Under the Education Act 1996, parents are responsible for ensuring their child receives a suitable education. That’s why local authorities can issue penalty notices (fines) or even initiate prosecution if attendance drops.
But, and this is key, if a child’s anxiety is recognised as part of a medical or Additional Learning Need (ALN), this becomes a valid reason for absence.
To protect yourself:
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Keep a written record of all anxiety-related absences.
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Request CAMHS or ALN assessment in writing.
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Ask the school to document steps taken (e.g., reduced timetable, counselling).
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Keep copies of GP letters, therapist input, and all emails.
These documents provide evidence that you are actively engaging with services and doing everything you can to secure your child’s education — even if that education cannot currently take place within a classroom.
🎒 How Schools Support Pupils with Anxiety
If your child’s anxiety makes learning difficult, the school must consider whether they have Additional Learning Needs (ALN). Under the ALN Code for Wales (2021), emotional and mental health needs are recognised as ALN when they impact access to learning.
Once ALN is confirmed, the school or local authority must:
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Create an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
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Specify Additional Learning Provision (ALP) - such as emotional regulation support, sensory adaptations, counselling, or exam access arrangements
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Work with parents and the child as equal partners in planning
Even if your child stops attending school, the local authority remains responsible for meeting their needs. That might mean EOTAS provision or moving the IDP from school to LA oversight.
💊 Medication & Therapies in School
If CAMHS prescribes medication, the school will obtain your consent and follow the guidance outlined in an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP). This document outlines who gives the medication, where, and when. Most often, it’s a trained member of staff, not an untrained class teacher, and only with written agreement.
If your child is receiving therapy (e.g. CBT), it may not appear directly in the IHP unless sessions are on-site. However, if those sessions affect attendance or learning, the IDP can include information, so teachers know how best to support them afterwards, e.g., allowing rest periods or processing time.
✋ You Are Not Alone
When a child refuses school due to anxiety, the whole family can feel like they’re in crisis. Worrying about fines, forms, and therapy queues is exhausting, especially on top of caring for an anxious child.
But this isn’t your fault. You’re not alone. And there are ways forward.
We’ve worked with hundreds of families across Wales facing the same questions. Join our Facebook Group to connect with others, or explore our Parent Guide App to access toolkits, printables, and up-to-date advice.
No one should be punished for trying to protect their child’s well-being. With the right support, anxious children can and do recover, and re-engage with learning in ways that truly suit them
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