What Are The Implications of The Change In The Code of Practice (2016) From SEBD to SEMH?
Dr Lisa Cherry FRSA
Director, Trauma Informed Consultancy Services | Training | Speaking | Consultancy | Research |
Where Have We Been?
What preceded BESD was the term ‘maladjustment’ which is dictionary defined to mean ‘a failure to meet the demands of society, such as coping with problems and social relationships: usually reflected in emotional instability.’
BESD changed direction a little but leaving the term behaviour in the labelling of children, locates the difficulty very firmly with that child. The problem is the child, or the parents. There is a ‘blame’ element within the rhetoric that creates barriers, shame and exclusion.
Within that remit there have also been many debates as to where the behaviour element of the ‘diagnosis’ should lie; does the behaviour come before the emotional or does it come before the Social? How are the impacts of the social and emotional challenges reflected in the behaviour and how can this label quantify and work with that in the best interests of the individual child?
Fortunately, we have travelled even further since then, but what do the new changes in terminology signify about our understanding, our approach and how we have changed as a society?
Psychotherapist * Adopter * Author * Supervisor * Trainer * Former Foster Parent
8 年Interesting article. You raise some really good points. I do believe though that whatever the label we give we need to equip school staff to better understand and work with the issues that play out in their classrooms. My concern about the MH label is that some teaching staff may see this as out of their remit in a mainstream setting. I am already frequently told by teachers and headteachers that they do not work with children with attachment difficulties. When I point out that this would mean not working with any child the conversation that follows often shows a complete lack of training and awareness.