CiNI Launch Best Practice Guide for Schools on Anxiety and Distress
On 25th March 2025, Children in Northern Ireland hosted a conference at Lagan Valley Island to bring together parents, carers, teachers and other professionals to discuss the issue of Anxiety or Emotionally-Based School Avoidance and how to respond to it. Speakers included key local experts and parents with lived experience, and there was close collaboration with the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership to inform their Locality Planning. CiNI also formally launched ‘School Anxiety and Distress: A Best Practice Guide for Schools’ to support the sharing of resources, tools and best practices across our education system. Speaking at the event, CiNI’s Head of Policy, Dr Ernest Purvis said:
“School attendance is not just about percentages on a page — it’s about people. The issue we’re highlighting today is about children who want to learn, but can’t. And it’s about families who are crying out for support, not judgment.
“We hope that the Best Practice Guide that we are launching here today, developed in partnership with parents and professionals, could prove to be a game changer.
“It offers a valuable insight into what is working well, and how schools in Northern Ireland have embedded empathy into policy, fostered genuine collaboration with parents to support a child’s attendance, and developed an enhanced approach to well-being and mental health that reflects an understanding of these as key elements of their educational experience.”
The Guide includes:
- A definition of Anxiety or Emotionally-based School Avoidance and how it differs from other issues related to not attending school;
- The key drivers and developmental considerations;
- Some of the signs and symptoms to help with picking it up early;
- Why building a culture of compassion is so important;
- Practical activities to encourage early intervention and prevention;
- Signposting to experts for advice, support and training;
- Examples of reasonable adjustments and gradual reintegration plans that have been proven to support young people;
- Tips for parents and advice on how to foster effective collaboration with families, as well as additional signposting to help parents get further information;
- A list of helpful resources, including checklists, templates and links to relevant training, helplines and specific support services;
- And finally some case studies – which are real examples that illustrate successes and challenges voiced by real people in Northern Ireland.
You can access the full document by clicking here
Watch our panelists from the event in the clips below:
Natalie Whelehan, CEO, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI)
Elaine McCrisken, Strive NI
Rebecca McCullough, Eden Consultancy
Lyndsey, Parent Panellist
Paul Hamilton, Children’s Law Centre
CiNI Launch Best Practice Guide for Schools on Anxiety and Distress
On 25th March 2025, Children in Northern Ireland hosted a conference at Lagan Valley Island to bring together parents, carers, teachers and other professionals to discuss the issue of Anxiety or Emotionally-Based School Avoidance and how to respond to it. Speakers included key local experts and parents with lived experience, and there was close collaboration with the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership to inform their Locality Planning. CiNI also formally launched ‘School Anxiety and Distress: A Best Practice Guide for Schools’ to support the sharing of resources, tools and best practices across our education system. Speaking at the event, CiNI’s Head of Policy, Dr Ernest Purvis said:
“School attendance is not just about percentages on a page — it’s about people. The issue we’re highlighting today is about children who want to learn, but can’t. And it’s about families who are crying out for support, not judgment.
“We hope that the Best Practice Guide that we are launching here today, developed in partnership with parents and professionals, could prove to be a game changer.
“It offers a valuable insight into what is working well, and how schools in Northern Ireland have embedded empathy into policy, fostered genuine collaboration with parents to support a child’s attendance, and developed an enhanced approach to well-being and mental health that reflects an understanding of these as key elements of their educational experience.”
The Guide includes:
- A definition of Anxiety or Emotionally-based School Avoidance and how it differs from other issues related to not attending school;
- The key drivers and developmental considerations;
- Some of the signs and symptoms to help with picking it up early;
- Why building a culture of compassion is so important;
- Practical activities to encourage early intervention and prevention;
- Signposting to experts for advice, support and training;
- Examples of reasonable adjustments and gradual reintegration plans that have been proven to support young people;
- Tips for parents and advice on how to foster effective collaboration with families, as well as additional signposting to help parents get further information;
- A list of helpful resources, including checklists, templates and links to relevant training, helplines and specific support services;
- And finally some case studies – which are real examples that illustrate successes and challenges voiced by real people in Northern Ireland.
You can access the full document by clicking here
Watch our panelists from the event in the clips below:
Natalie Whelehan, CEO, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI)
Elaine McCrisken, Strive NI
Rebecca McCullough, Eden Consultancy
Lyndsey, Parent Panellist
Paul Hamilton, Children’s Law Centre
