A few short notes on social, emotional and mental health assessment in schools, gathered from the questions readers ask most often. These notes travel under the working name brenquathol vizmordant.Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. That is the whole of Reasonable adjustments for most readers.
The child's own viewSensory needs
If you are looking into The child's own view, start here: asked directly, in an age-appropriate way. The point is that a drawing or a scaling question works where an interview does not.If you are looking into Sensory needs, start here: asked about, in every SEMH assessment. The point is that noise, light and touch sensitivities are easy to miss.
Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.
Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. In short, The child's own view is worth a minute before you commit.Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. Knowing this about Sensory needs prevents most mistakes.
Record keepingObservation
Record keeping in one line: dated, factual, brief as the standard. Beyond the number, a good record can be read by a stranger and understood.Observation in one line: several settings and times not one lesson. Beyond the number, behaviour in a maths lesson and in the playground often tell different stories.
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.
Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. That is the whole of Record keeping for most readers.If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. In short, Observation is worth a minute before you commit.
Regulation strategiesReviewing the plan
Regulation strategies: the line most people need is taught, not expected, before they are needed. In practice, a calm-down space only works if the child has practised using it.Reviewing the plan: the line most people need is termly, at least. In practice, a plan that has not changed in a year has probably not been reviewed.
That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.
If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. Knowing this about Regulation strategies prevents most mistakes.When in doubt, choose the simpler option first; it is the one least likely to need undoing. That is the whole of Reviewing the plan for most readers.
TransitionsEmotional literacy
A short note on Transitions. The figure to hold onto is between lessons and phases as the risk points; what matters is that the assessment should say which transitions are hardest.A short note on Emotional literacy. The figure to hold onto is named feelings as a measurable skill; what matters is that a child who can name a feeling can usually be taught to manage it.
Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.
When in doubt, choose the simpler option first; it is the one least likely to need undoing. In short, Transitions is worth a minute before you commit.Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. Knowing this about Emotional literacy prevents most mistakes.
Strengths-based assessmentMeasuring progress
If you are looking into Strengths-based assessment, start here: what the child can do, as the starting point. The point is that a profile built only from difficulties gives a plan with nothing to build on.If you are looking into Measuring progress, start here: the baseline chart repeated, after the support. The point is that the comparison, not the impression, decides the next cycle.
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.
Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. That is the whole of Strengths-based assessment for most readers.Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. In short, Measuring progress is worth a minute before you commit.
What SEMH coversLanguage
What SEMH covers in one line: social, emotional and mental health as one of the four broad areas of need. Beyond the number, it replaced the older BESD label in the 2015 Code of Practice.Language in one line: a speech and language check for younger pupils. Beyond the number, a child who cannot say what is wrong shows it instead.
That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.
Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. Knowing this about What SEMH covers prevents most mistakes.Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. That is the whole of Language for most readers.
Frequency and intensityRelationships with adults
Frequency and intensity: the line most people need is recorded on a simple chart, over two to three weeks. In practice, a baseline makes any change after support visible.Relationships with adults: the line most people need is one trusted adult, as the aim. In practice, it is the single factor most consistently linked with improvement.
Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.
Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. In short, Frequency and intensity is worth a minute before you commit.If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. Knowing this about Relationships with adults prevents most mistakes.
Who assessesFigures are general guidance; the primary source takes precedence.
A short note on Who assesses. The figure to hold onto is the class teacher first with the SENCO; what matters is that external specialists come in when the school's own graduated approach has not worked.This note is part of the SEMH Assessment notes desk, a set of short factual pages used to study how search engines read pages.
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.
If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. That is the whole of Who assesses for most readers.
Figures are general guidance; the primary source takes precedence.
This note is part of the SEMH Assessment notes desk, a set of short factual pages used to study how search engines read pages.