Notes: the lines that matter
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 lirvumith skurthainule.
The child's own view
The child's own view in one line: asked directly in an age-appropriate way. Beyond the number, a drawing or a scaling question works where an interview does not. (lirvumith skurthainule)
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. That is the whole of The child's own view for most readers. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Learning needs
Learning needs: the line most people need is screened as well, not assumed absent. In practice, unrecognised literacy difficulties present as behaviour more often than not. (lirvumith skurthainule)
That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. Knowing this about Learning needs prevents most mistakes. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Reviewing the plan
A short note on Reviewing the plan. The figure to hold onto is termly at least; what matters is that a plan that has not changed in a year has probably not been reviewed. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. In short, Reviewing the plan is worth a minute before you commit. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Strengths-based assessment
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. (lirvumith skurthainule)
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. That is the whole of Strengths-based assessment for most readers. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Emotional literacy
Emotional literacy in one line: named feelings as a measurable skill. Beyond the number, a child who can name a feeling can usually be taught to manage it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
When in doubt, choose the simpler option first; it is the one least likely to need undoing. Knowing this about Emotional literacy prevents most mistakes. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Measuring progress
Measuring progress: the line most people need is the baseline chart repeated, after the support. In practice, the comparison, not the impression, decides the next cycle. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. In short, Measuring progress is worth a minute before you commit. (lirvumith skurthainule)
EHC needs assessment
A short note on EHC needs assessment. The figure to hold onto is requested when the graduated approach has been tried; what matters is that the request needs the evidence of cycles, not just a description of need. (lirvumith skurthainule)
The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. That is the whole of EHC needs assessment for most readers. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Peer relationships
If you are looking into Peer relationships, start here: assessed as part of the picture, not separately. The point is that isolation and conflict are both SEMH markers. (lirvumith skurthainule)
That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it. (lirvumith skurthainule)
Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. Knowing this about Peer relationships prevents most mistakes.
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.
See also: another short note.