Definition of terms

SEBD: Social, Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties

This term has been selected as a title because the social and physical environment in which a young person lives and learns is considered to have an enormous effect on emotional development and consequently on behavior. However, the abbreviations EBSD (emotional, behavioral and social difficulties) and BESD (behavioral, emotional and social difficulties/development) are also commonly used in documentation and legislation. The Professional Standards for Qualified Teacher Status say, for example, that teachers must demonstrate that: ‘They identify and support more able pupils, those working below age-related expectations, those who are failing to achieve their potential in learning, and those who experience behavioral, emotional and social difficulties’ (TTA, 2002a, Section 2, Sub-section 4). The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (DfES, 2001) also uses the heading ‘Behavior, emotional and social development’, as does the National SEN Specialist Standards (TTA, 1999).