The code says: “These may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.”
Prevalence and impact
The Department for Education collects data annually on the number of school pupils with SEMH needs through its SEN in England statistics. The most recent statistics shows that in 2021/22 there were more than 250,000 pupils with an identified SEMH need in England, the majority in receipt of SEN Support from schools. The numbers have risen in the past year – SEMH needs are now the second most common category of SEND pupils accounting for more than one in six of the total (see graphics).
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