Growing Up in Scotland: Children’s social, emotional and behavioural characteristics at entry to primary school

Adequate social, emotional and behavioural development is recognised as being central to a child’s success at school. Difficulties with inattention, social interaction and emotion regulation can all provoke a poor reaction to the school environment and experience and ultimately lead to more negative school outcomes. The significance of early identification of social and behavioural difficulties is acknowledged by the Scottish Government’s Early Years Framework which looks to shift focus from ‘crisis interventions’ to early years preventative and early intervention work.