‘Do we make ourselves clear?’ Developing a social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) support service's effectiveness in detecting and supporting children experiencing speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD)

Abstract

Research has identified a significant relationship between social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) and speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD). However, little has been published regarding the levels of knowledge and skill that practitioners working with pupils experiencing SEBD have in this important area, nor how they might more effectively detect and support SLCD in the children and young people with whom they work. This paper outlines a small-scale project intended to evaluate said knowledge and skills within an SEBD support team in central England, and to increase this team's effectiveness in detecting and supporting children experiencing SLCD.

Keywords:

• social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD); speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD); support service; relationship between SEBD and SLCD; detection; support