Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs are a type of special educational needs in which children and young people have difficulties in managing their emotions and behaviour. They may often show inappropriate responses and feelings to situations.

This means that they may have trouble in building and maintaining relationships with peers and adults; they may also struggle to engage with learning and to cope without additional strategies and interventions. SEMH does not have to be a lifelong condition. With appropriate support children and young people can move forward and live successful lives.

Typical characteristics of young people with SEMH can include:

• Not being able to follow instructions.
• Find it challenging to complete tasks fully.
• Not making the expected progress towards achieving qualifications due to barriers to learning.
• Difficulties developing and maintaining appropriate relationships.
• Unpredictable behaviour, not able to regulate and control emotions.
• Outbursts of verbally/physical aggression.
• Inappropriate responses when interacting with others.
• Not being able to manage reactions to others appropriately.
• Not being able to manage unstructured times, eg breaktimes.
• Disrupting the education of others.
• High anxiety/low mood.
• Demonstrating signs of being withdrawn.
• Not able to keep self-safe, vulnerable in the wider community.
• Self-harm.
• Low or decreasing attendance.

Download the 16 – 18 Graduated Response toolkit here:

16 – 18 Graduated Response Toolkit