Top 5 SEMH Tips
My top 5 tips for working with SEMH Children and Young People.
Supporting children and young people with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs can be highly challenging. Throughout my career, I’ve developed various strategies to help these individuals thrive. However, due to the nature of their needs, approaches that work well one week or month may lose effectiveness, requiring constant adaptation and creativity. For example, using a certain song or technique to get the class’ attention might stop working, so you have to switch to a different song! That said, the following five tips have consistently proven effective for me, particularly when integrated into daily teaching routines.
1) Prioritise Personalised Approaches 📑
Why: Every child has unique SEMH needs shaped by neurodiversity, past experiences, or challenges. A one-size-fits-all method may overlook key aspects of their struggles.
How: Draw on your own or colleagues’ expertise in neurodiverse needs and behavioural management:
Develop individual regulation strategies, such as sensory breaks or mindfulness exercises.
Adjust teaching styles to suit learning preferences (e.g., visual aids for those with processing difficulties).
Example: For a child struggling to transition back into school, create a gradual reintegration plan with short, supported sessions to reduce overwhelm.
2) Build Strong, Trusting Relationships 🤝
Why: A consistent and empathetic relationship helps children feel safe and valued, which is crucial for re-engagement.
How: Utilise your behavioural and re-engagement strategies by being approachable and validating their emotions.
Example: Be every child’s champion every day (Rita Pierson), take an interest in their hobbies, develop a handshake with each child, and use unconditional positive regard in your teaching style.
3) Collaborate Across Services 🔁
Why: SEMH support often requires a multi-agency approach to address the children’s needs holistically. Children with SEMH needs will, in my experience, often have other professionals involved (Social Care, YJS, Virtual School, Family support etc).
How: Leverage your skills, and knowledge and gain further support for the children via partnership-building with external services such as the Virtual School, Youth Justice Services (YJS), and other professionals.
Example: Jointly develop a support plan with external agencies to address both educational and behavioural challenges of children at risk of exclusion.
What are your top tips for teaching children with SEMH needs?
4) Embed Clear Structures and Boundaries 🏗️
Why: Predictability and consistency provide stability for children who may feel anxious or unsettled.
How: Create visual timetables, support plans (with external agencies), create rules as a class which pupils all sign, have a trusted adult complete check-ins each morning with a specific pupil etc.
Example: Implement a clear "sensory corner" system in class, where children can self-regulate when overwhelmed, ensuring they understand when and how to use it.
5) Ensure a Strengths-Based Focus 🏋️
Why: Celebrating children’s strengths helps build their confidence and resilience, countering the negative narratives they may hold about themselves.
How: Send postcards home, catch the children being good throughout the lesson, and create lessons that are focused on children’s strengths.
Example: If a child is passionate about music (e.g., a Courteeners fan), integrate this into activities like songwriting or exploring lyrics for English lessons. This helps by making the curriculum more engaging and relatable.
“God Bless The Band, They’re doing all they can”
What other tips would you add to this list? Comment them below! If you have any ideas about how you’re going to implement these tips, let me know in the comments!
