Your Guide to Supporting Students with SEMH and BESD needs

Of recent years the importance to understand and address SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) and BESD (Behavioural, Emotional, and Social Development) needs within schools has greatly increased in order to provide effective support for affected students. The increased occurrences of these challenges are concurrent with the recent lockdown and pandemic effects. Teachers must address these complexities to motivate students, maintain a positive classroom environment, and encourage constructive learning experiences.

 

SEMH – Social, Emotional & Mental Health

Education staff play a pivotal role in addressing the social, emotional, and mental health needs of young people. Identifying SEMH issues and employing strategies to support these needs are fundamental aspects of teaching. Although these complexities are unique to each student and will be presented differently, key indicators of SEMH issues could include:

  • Emotional detachment and difficulty forming or maintaining friendships.
  • Fear of social interactions.
  • Outbursts and mood swings.
  • Involvement in fights, self-harm, or bullying.
  • Weight loss or eating disorders.
  • Decreased concentration.
  • Changes in behaviour.
     

To provide support for those with SEMH needs, education staff should firstly ensure all safeguarding issues are reported and handled in line with your School Policies. After necessary precautions have been taken, education staff can take several steps to assist students with SEMH challenges:

  1. Engage with the school’s guidance and SEN provision to arrange meetings with the student to discuss any concerns related to home or school.
  2. Address bullying promptly and firmly. Encourage students to report bullying and ensure they receive the necessary support.
  3. Communicate with parents or carers about observed signs, as complexities can stem from both home and school environments.
  4. Introduce variety and new tasks in the classroom while maintaining a predictable and calm environment to help students feel secure.
  5. Provide praise and recognition to students, and reward good work to foster a positive environment.
     

BESD – Behavioural, Emotional & Social Development

Students with behavioural issues, often have conditions like ADD, autism, or ODD, which affect their concentration and communication. Emotional difficulties may arise from anxiety, mental health issues, addictions, or depression, often intersecting with behavioural conditions. Social issues can result from neglect, challenging backgrounds, or unsafe home environments, impacting how students perceive themselves and others. Students with BESD might show symptoms similar to those with SEMH difficulties, with indicators including but not limited to:

  • Anger and frustration.
  • Absenteeism.
  • Social isolation.
  • Difficulty forming and maintaining friendships.
  • Behaviour changes or mood swings.
  • Irregular social interactions.
     

To provide support for those with BESD needs, education staff should firstly ensure all safeguarding issues are reported and handled in line with your School Policies. After necessary precautions have been taken, effective behaviour management is key to supporting students with BESD needs, this can include strategies such as:

  1. Avoid constant confrontation, address behaviours that need immediate attention and overlook minor issues that do not disrupt the class.
  2. Address disruptive students outside the classroom to reduce the audience and attention, as well as reducing the sense of isolation the student might feel.
  3. Understand that students with BESD might need to fidget to stay focused or have other adaptations, learning to understand and avoid punishing this behaviour.
  4. Emphasise rewarding good behaviour and setting goals, which can have a more positive impact.
  5. Foster trust and respect with BESD students. Share effective strategies with colleagues to create a supportive environment.

Here at MAT Recruitment, providing excellence in education is our priority, ensuring all students have access to the best standard of education! We have an incredible range of jobs from all over England for Teachers, Educational Leaders and Support Staff.

Register with us today!

Share:

More Posts

Schools

If your school or trust is looking for recruitment support, please get in contact today. 

Education staff

MAT Recruitment regularly updates the vacancies we are working on, please ensure that you re-visit this site to find your perfect job. 

MAT Tutors

We offer a flexible approach for tuition, supporting schools with in-person or online delivery aligned to your school catchup / intervention programme. 

Schools

If your school or trust is looking for recruitment support, please get in contact today. 

Education staff

MAT Recruitment regularly updates the vacancies we are working on, please ensure that you re-visit this site to find your perfect job. 

MAT Tutors

We offer a flexible approach for tuition, supporting schools with in-person or online delivery aligned to your school catchup / intervention programme. 

Scroll to Top