What is BESD (behavioural, emotional and social difficulties)?
Children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) often have an inability to build and maintain relationships with their peers or adults. They find it difficult to engage in learning and often struggle to cope in a mainstream school environment. Children with BESD will often show inappropriate responses and feelings in normal conditions. They frequently have mood swings, are unhappy or depressed and their values and behaviour are socially unacceptable or strange. Children with BESD will often exhibit inappropriate behaviour in response to situations, environments or demands made of them that they do not like or understand. Their anti-social behaviour is persistent and often impacts on the basic rights of others. Children with BESD have emotional and behavioural episodes of such duration that they disrupt their academic and developmental progress and impact on their ability to develop relationships. BESD does not have to be a lifetime condition and with the right type
