SEMH Team
We are part of a service for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the Bradford district.
As a team of Specialist Teachers and Practitioners we work within the Social, Communication, Interaction, & Learning Team (SCIL Team) alongside the other specialist areas of Communication and Interaction (including Autism), Cognition & Learning and Early
Years. For full details of our offer, please visit About SCIL Team
Our offer focuses on equipping mainstream schools/settings to identify and effectively support children and young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities through high quality teaching, reasonable adjustments and additional provision.
Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)
What do we mean by SEMH Difficulties?
SEMH is an umbrella term which can be difficult to define clearly. It is not a diagnosis, although those identified as coming under SEMH may have diagnoses including ADHD, Autism, Attachment Difficulties, Dyslexia, and any number of Mental Health conditions.
However, it is important to remember that they may have none.
Understanding an individual’s presentation lies in understanding what has happened to them and how they may have internalised experiences which influence how they interact cognitively, socially, and emotionally with their environments.
We believe that it is essential to assess the individual’s needs to determine what provision needs to be in place to support their fulfilment of the following:
‘Having a positive sense of identity, the ability to manage thoughts and emotions, the ability to build social relationships, the aptitude to learn and to acquire an education, so that ultimately children and young people are enabled to participate fully
and actively in society,’ (World Health Organisation 2018).
Additionally, we recognise that unmet needs in other areas may predispose an individual to present in the ways described above and it is crucial to investigate these unmet needs as part of an SEMH response.
Below is a collection of useful sites:
Help sheets and resources: