Worry ladder: graded return template
A worry ladder breaks a return to school into small rungs, from the smallest first step at the bottom to an ordinary full day at the top. The pupil only climbs a rung when the one below has gone from scary to boring. It replaces ‘just come back full-time’ with a plan they can actually manage.
A4 PDF · part of the free Calm Classroom pack · print as many as you need
How to use it
Build it with the pupil and their key adult, and make the bottom rung genuinely small: getting as far as the library, or ten minutes in a favourite lesson.
Expect wobbles. Dropping back a rung after a bad week is part of the method, not a failure. Record each step so the next review starts from facts.
Background: What is emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)?
What’s on it · Primary (Reception to Year 6)
Fill this in with the child and their key adult — the easiest, tiniest step at the bottom, an ordinary full day at the top — and only climb a rung when the one below has gone from scary to boring.
Child: ……………… Key adult: ……………… Started: ………
| Rung | The step (in the child's words) | Done it? | Felt boring yet? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔝 Top — a full ordinary day | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 5 | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 4 | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 3 | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 2 | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 1 — the tiniest first step | ☐ | ☐ |
Move at the speed of boredom, not the calendar. Add a rung back in when one's too big. Bank and name every small win out loud.
What’s on it · Secondary (Years 7 to 11)
Fill this in with the student and their key adult — the smallest first step at the bottom, an ordinary full day at the top — and only climb a rung when the one below has gone from scary to boring.
Student: ……………… Key adult: ……………… Started: ………
| Rung | The step (in the student's words) | Done it? | Felt boring yet? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔝 Top — a full ordinary day | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 5 | (e.g. a fuller day / a feared subject) | ☐ | ☐ |
| 4 | (e.g. one whole lesson with the class) | ☐ | ☐ |
| 3 | (e.g. into reception, then the library base) | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2 | (e.g. to the car park, meet the key adult) | ☐ | ☐ |
| 1 — the smallest first step | ☐ | ☐ |
Move at the speed of boredom, not the calendar. Add a rung back in when one's too big. Bank and name every small win out loud.