Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Introduction:
The SEND Code of Practice (2015) specifies four ‘broad areas of need’, one of which is ‘Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs’ or ‘SEMH’. SEMH needs includes all pupils who may be experiencing a wide range of social and emotional difficulties, which manifest themselves in many ways. Pupils with SEMH needs made up 17% of all pupils with SEND in 2019 (DfE SEN data, 2019), making it the third most commonly identified area of need. The rate of identification of SEMH needs increases with age.