All About SEMH: A Practical Guide for Secondary Teachers

All About SEMH is an accessible and informative guide for secondary school teachers, designed to increase their understanding of social, emotional and mental health needs, and to enhance their toolkit with practical, evidence-informed strategies to support learners in their care.

The book unpicks key terminology and debunks myths and misconceptions, enabling teachers to more easily understand some of the challenges for learners with SEMH needs. It then explores a range of key areas including anxiety, depression, bereavement, obsessive-compulsive disorder and self-harm, and focuses on practical strategies and adaptations that can be made in every classroom. All About SEMH includes:

• A comprehensive introduction to social, emotional and mental health needs and the surrounding terms and policies
• Practical strategies tailored to different conditions to help provide targeted support to secondary school learners
• Case studies and worked examples to illustrate points in the book, supporting behaviour recognition and developing reader understanding
• The difference between children’s behaviour at home and at school are examined, and the voices of parents of children with SEMH are woven throughout
• Guidance on safeguarding and when to ask for additional support regarding concerns such as drug abuse or child exploitation
• Easy to dip in and out of chapters with signposting to further research, resources and support

This accessible guide is a valuable resource to empower secondary educators, increasing their knowledge and understanding of SEMH, and providing a range of practical strategies to support every learner in their class. It will be essential reading for all secondary school educators, SENCOs and parents who are supporting children with SEMH needs.

Sarah Johnson is the founder of Phoenix Education Consultancy, which helps educational establishments to understand what they are doing well and looks at addressing gaps to improve their service. She previously worked in both primary and secondary mainstream education, including as director of inclusion for a large primary school, and as head of a Secondary Pupil Referral Unit.