Supporting a student with an eating disorder at school

Empowering schools to support recovery.

School staff can find it challenging to know what to do to support a student experiencing an eating disorder and what they can do for their wider school community (staff and students). However, schools can play an incredibly important role in the recovery of a student, particularly when they are returning from inpatient care or engaged in intensive outpatient treatment.

Every eating disorder experience and the treatment and recovery process is unique. Therefore the ways in which a school supports recovery will need to be flexible and based on a collaborative approach between the school, the student (if age appropriate), their family and the treatment team.

Schools are encouraged to refer to Butterfly’s and NEC’s evidence-based resources and guidance below, about supporting student’s experiencing eating disorders in the school environment.

If you would like to know more about eating disorders and supporting students, you can also attend one of our professional development workshops. See our scheduled events here.