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Defining, identifying, and recognising underlying causes of social, emotional and mental health difficulties: Thematic analysis of interviews with headteachers in England’

Martin-Denham, Sarah (2021) Defining, identifying, and recognising underlying causes of social, emotional and mental health difficulties: Thematic analysis of interviews with headteachers in England’. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. ISSN 1363-2752

Item Type: Article

Abstract

In the UK, there is growing concern regarding the increasing prevalence of social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties experienced by children and young people. Using thematic analysis, this study sought ‘to determine how a sample of headteachers (HTs) define, identify and recognise underlying causes of SEMH difficulties’. The analysis found no consensus among the HTs regarding a definition for SEMH, but identified three themes: common characteristics used to define SEMH difficulties; information seeking to identify SEMH difficulties; and how HTs recognise origins and outcomes of SEMH difficulties. The results suggest that headteachers identify behavioural ‘problems and difficulties’ as a SEN, despite this not being a category within the SEND code of practice. To improve identification and response to SEMH difficulties, it is recommended that the Department for Education revises language in statutory guidance from ‘should’ and ‘could’ to ‘must’, to enforce a legal duty on schools for prompt identification of needs.

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More Information

Depositing User: Leah Maughan

Identifiers

Item ID: 13117
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2021.1930909
ISSN: 1363-2752
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/13117
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13632...

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Sarah Martin-Denham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4028-4197

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 29 Jan 2021 16:12
Last Modified: 15 Dec 2022 03:38

Contributors

Author: Sarah Martin-Denham ORCID iD

University Divisions

Faculty of Education and Society > School of Education

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