Emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD): the special educational need justifying exclusion

Students identified with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) present a special case within special educational needs (SEN) and inclusion. EBD is perhaps the only category of SEN that exposes a child to increased risk of exclusion as a function of the very SEN identified as requiring special provision in the first instance. Students identified with EBD share an increased risk for disruptive behaviour. The use of exclusions as a strategy for responding to the special educational needs of these children is contrary to the notion of inclusion. Exclusions, by definition, reduce the ability of schools and associated agencies to work with children identified with SEN. Assuming a positive school effect on the academic and social development, reducing and/or interrupting the continuity of attendance via sanctions such as exclusion may exacerbate negative socio–behavioural developmental patterns, compounding identified risk factors and associated deleterious socio–emotional and cognitive/learning outcomes.