The Statutory Assessment of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

Abstract
This article discusses some of the important findings from recent research into the assessment of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and, in addition, draws on the findings from two complementary but unpublished studies in this area (Petrie, 1994 and Harraghy, 1994). All the studies report that children referred for EBD assessment are predominantly boys who display acting out disruptive behaviour. Other findings on the assessment methods used by educational psychologists (EPs) and the perceptions of parents suggest that the quality of EPs’ assessments is yet to meet the aspirations laid down in the 1993 Education Act and the Children Act. This has implications for EP training and practice as we move into an era where there are increasing expectations for EPs to meet externally determined criteria when making statutory assessments for all children with special needs, including those with EBD.

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