Screening for Behaviour Problems in a School for Pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties

Abstract

Summary Reference is made to the variety of attempts to identify the nature and seriousness of pupils’ behaviour problems in school. A three‐year study is reported, in which the Bristol Social Adjustment Guide is used for this purpose in a special school for pupils aged 11‐16 years who have moderate learning difficulties. Systematic follow‐up enabled the incidence of reported problems to be significantly reduced. This result suggests that a school with difficulties can be assisted to develop strategies through which teaching staff can increasingly help themselves. This article examines these papers which lay out proposals for future legislation with particular reference to the statementing procedure established by the 1981 Education Act.