Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties: Theory to Practice - Practical

Our review of Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties: Theory to Practice finds it a grounded, practical text for educators seeking alternatives to exclusion. Written by Paul Cooper, Colin J. Smith and Graham Upton, the book argues that mainstream schools can respond constructively to pupils with emotional and behavioural needs rather than defaulting to exclusion. This review highlights the book's classroom-focused recommendations, its suitability for special needs coordinators and teachers, and why it is recommended reading for heads who must balance policy, inclusion and day-to-day behaviour management.

Key Features

• Practical alternatives: Offers clear approaches schools can adopt instead of exclusion, helping staff keep pupils within mainstream settings where possible.
• Classroom focus: Emphasises day-to-day strategies teachers can use to manage behaviour and support emotional needs in ordinary lessons.
• Leadership perspective: Addresses the responsibilities of heads and special needs coordinators when setting whole-school approaches to behavioural difficulties.
• Accessible presentation: Written in a style suited to busy practitioners, making theory usable for staff without specialist training.
• Policy relevance: Connects practical measures to the wider school context so decisions about exclusion are informed and consistent.

Who It's For

This book is aimed squarely at school professionals: special needs coordinators, classroom teachers and headteachers looking for evidence-based alternatives to exclusion. It will be most useful to those who need practical, classroom-minded strategies that can be implemented within mainstream provision.

Those seeking a specialist clinical manual, an academic textbook with dense research methodology, or a student-level introduction to psychological theory may prefer other titles; this volume is strongest as a practitioner guide for school staff rather than a research monograph.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical guidance helps schools reduce reliance on exclusion and retain pupils in mainstream education.
• Useful for a range of staff roles including SENCOs and heads, supporting consistent policy and practice.
• Readable, action-oriented chapters make it easy for busy teachers to extract usable ideas.

Cons

• Not a specialist clinical text, so readers wanting detailed therapeutic techniques may find coverage limited.

Specifications

Title	Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties: Theory to Practice
Authors	Paul Cooper, Colin J. Smith, Graham Upton
Audience	Special needs coordinators, teachers, heads
Focus	Mainstream school strategies and alternatives to exclusion
Use	Practical classroom and whole-school guidance
Category	Special Education / Behavioural Disorders

Our Verdict

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties: Theory to Practice is a strong, practical resource for school practitioners who want workable alternatives to exclusion. Its emphasis on classroom strategies and whole-school responsibility makes it good value for SENCOs, teachers and heads seeking to improve inclusion without needing specialist clinical training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for classroom teachers?
Yes. It is written to help teachers apply practical strategies for managing emotional and behavioural needs in mainstream lessons.

Does it replace specialist clinical guidance?
No. It offers practical school-based approaches but is not a substitute for clinical assessment or therapeutic intervention when needed.

Who will get the most from this book?
SENCOs, heads and teachers responsible for behaviour policy and inclusion will find the guidance most directly applicable.