Understanding and Interpreting the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Our one-day course trains schools in how to utilise the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – an available tool for assessing children’s social, emotional and mental health needs.

£250 + VAT per delegate

This course provides a baseline for supporting professionals in understanding what the numbers behind the SDQ actually mean and how to interpret which interventions are likely to have the greatest impact.

We often spend time and resources carrying out surveys, without really allowing ourselves time to reflect on what the results mean. During this interactive training session, participants discuss current procedures in their settings and reflect on how and why the SDQ can help them respond to children’s needs. Participants will explore using suggested strategies, resources and interventions as part of 1:1, group and whole school approaches.

To register staff for this training:

Spring Term Dates: 9am – 3.30pm

Tuesday 28th January 2025

Thursday 27th February 2025

Monday 24th March 2025

The SDQ is the main framework for the following organisations:

Schools

Virtual Schools

CAMHS

Children's Services

Each learner will receive:

A bespoke SEMH Assessment Handbook developed by the Mental Health Hub

A digital course workbook

You will also gain an insight into how the CORDS platform (by Mental Health Hub) can transform and elevate your whole school approach to mental health and ensure that you follow best practice.

(If you are a CORDS or CORDS+ subscriber this training is included for two members of staff.)

Training Objectives

At the end of the training, all participants will:

Be able to identify, assess, interpret and plan support for children and young people, using the SDQ.

Know how to use CORDS to complete an online SEMH assessment.

Understand the principles of trauma informed practice and relational approach, and how these link to the assessment tool.

Reflect on the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences on children’s development and wellbeing.

Engage with the roles and responsibilities that schools have for mental health and wellbeing.

Be confident in using outcome measures to gain deep insight into a child’s needs as part of a 1:1, group or whole school approach.

Be able to implement the SDQ in a school environment as part of a whole school approach.

Interpret and understand the results and scores of the SDQ.

Leave confident to begin personalising support, interventions, strategies and action plans.

Download the SDQ

and Scoring Handbook

Testimonials

"Really informative. How to interpret the results of the questionnaires and then providing recommendations for interventions, based on those results, is unbelievably helpful."

"This course has provided insight into those next steps and thinking about interventions that suit, especially using CORDS."

"I found the idea of a whole school approach assessing the needs of every child very appealing. I particularly enjoyed the information given on hyperactivity and prosocial behaviours."

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