EOTAS Leeds Parent / Carer Support Group
We support parents and carers whose children and young people are unable to access a formal education setting at all stages of their journey.
Education Other Than At / In School (EOTAS / EOTIS) is a legal requirement placed on a local authority when a child or young person is unable to access a formal education setting. This may for example be for physical or mental health reasons or because of a child or young persons neurodivergence.Our group includes over 100 families from across Leeds and provides vital support and guidance when a child or young person is in this position. We do not use the term school refusal - this assumes there is a choice. Where a term needs to be used we opt for Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) or more often say it as it is - the child or young person's setting doesn't meet the child or young person's need to the extent that it causes significant trauma and an inability to attend.
This is far more a frequent occurrence than you may think or have been led to believe.
Parent / carers who join our group may:
- be at the start of their journey where a child is unable to attend for a day or two a week and unsure what to do or how to help, often being told that the best route is to make the child attend and feeling this is actually making the situation worse.
- have a child or young person who can access a school but is unable to access lessons within a school meaning the school has effectively become a childcare setting rather than an educational setting.
- have a child or young person has extreme anxiety about school but no diagnosis or EHCP and because they are meeting age related expectations, or seem "fine" in school, no support, or no relevant support, is forth-coming.
- have a child or young person who has an EHCP but the setting isn't meeting need to the extent that the child cannot attend and / or has significant trauma and anxiety concerning school.
- have a child or young person who is / has been totally out of education for a period of time and looking for advice and support about what to do next.
Our group consists of parent / carers who have been in these situations and more and offer informal advice, signposting, and support to others in similar positions. It's a friendly safe group currently running on Facebook and planning virtual meet ups.