All About SEMH: A Practical Guide for Primary Teachers

All About SEMH is an accessible and informative guide for primary school teachers, designed to increase their understanding of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, and to enhance their toolkit with practical, evidence-informed strategies to support children in their care.

The book unpicks key terminology and debunks myths and misconceptions, enabling teachers to more easily understand some of the challenges for learners with SEMH needs. It then explores a range of key areas, including anxiety, attachment, bullying and self-harm, and focuses on practical strategies and adaptations that can be made in every classroom. All About SEMH includes:

• A comprehensive introduction to social, emotional and mental health needs, and the surrounding terms and policies.
• Practical strategies tailored to different conditions to help provide targeted support to primary school learners.
• Case studies and worked examples to illustrate points in the book, supporting behaviour recognition and developing reader understanding.
• Discussion on different behaviour patterns in school and at home, with the voices of parents of children with SEMH woven throughout.
• Easy to dip in and out of chapters with signposting to further research, resources and support.

This accessible guide is a valuable resource to empower primary educators, increasing their knowledge and understanding of SEMH, and providing a range of practical strategies to support every learner in their class. It will be essential reading for all primary school educators, SENCOs and parents who are supporting children with SEMH needs.

SEMH needs are a type of special educational need where a child communicates through behaviour in response to unmet social, emotional or mental health needs.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Acronyms

Part 1: Introduction

• The purpose of this book and how you might use it

1.1 The evolution of the term ‘SEMH'

1.3 A brief overview of the international policy picture

1.4 What does it mean to have Social and Emotional Mental Health Needs?

Part 2: Practical Strategies

2.1. Anxiety

2.1a) Emotional based school avoidance

2.1b) Generalised anxiety

2.1c) Social phobia/anxiety

2.1d) Specific phobias

2.1e) Selective mutism/situational mutism

2.1f) interventions and support for children with anxiety

2.2a Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

2.2b Disinhibited attachment disorder/Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)

2.2c Intervention and support for children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

2.2d Intervention and support for children with Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)

2. 3 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

2.3a Intervention and support for children with ADHD

2. 4 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

2.4b Intervention and support for children with FASD

2.5 Harmful Sexual Behaviour

2.5a) Beyond referrals

2.6 Extreme/Pathological demand avoidance (E/PDA)

2.6b Intervention and support for children with EDA

2.7 Self-Harm

2.8 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

2.8a Intervention and support for children with PTSD

2.9 Tic Disorders

2.9a Tourette’s Syndrome

2.9b) Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder (PANS)

2.9c) Intervention, support and adaptions for tic disorders

2.10 Managing emotions

2.10a) Self-soothing

2.10b) Self-regulation

2.10c Hurting others

Part 3: Further Resources

3.1. other resources

3.2 mapping school support

3.3 Mapping resources within and beyond the school gates

Bibliography

Index