Teachers' responses to the emotional needs of children and young people. Results from the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme

The Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) was established in 2000 to advise the Scottish Government on the emotional health of the country's children and young people. The second phase, conducted in 2002-2003, involved surveying professionals who provide specialist mental health services to children and young people, and also those who work with children and young people in a variety of settings but whose training is not in mental health. Based on the survey, this paper outlines the emotional difficulties faced by children and young people in educational settings, and describes how teachers in particular are responding to these difficulties. It also discusses teachers' experiences of working with other professionals and agencies, in particular the frustrations they feel in their efforts to make suitable arrangements on behalf of young people