Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) is a broad term used to define a range of different needs children may have at any given time.
The term originated in the 2014 Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice and replaced the term social, emotional behaviour difficulties (SEBD) which had been previously used.
The adoption of the SEMH term recognises the behavioural link to mental health – within the SEN Code of Practice, behaviour linked to mental health and emotional wellbeing underlying needs is a common theme. It also shifts the emphasis towards addressing the needs of children rather than attempting to subdue behaviours, which has led to the adoption of a more child-centred approach among practitioners and service providers.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
