How to Reach ‘Hard to Reach’ Children addresses core underlying difficulties affecting children and young people in the community and in schools, relating to underachievement, disengagement and school avoidance.  It explores the consequences of school exclusion and the practices that can enhance the inclusion of pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs. The book offers new and creative approaches to promoting multi-agency teamwork in relation to working with looked after children, refugees and asylum seekers and those with challenging behaviour and autism, and their families. 

Its contribution is timely now that the government’s new agenda ‘Every Child Matters’ is becoming a reality. Written by experts who have worked for many years with children and young people in an educational context, the book highlights the views of children, young people and their families.  It gives a powerful insight as to how the government’s five outcomes can be realised by children who are hard to see, hard to find, hard to engage, hard to manage, hard to change or retain within systems set up to help and educate them.

The emphasis throughout the book is of multidisciplinary teamwork, collaboration and the validation of children’s views.  It will show professionals how they can work most effectively for the benefit of children and young people, who are among the most vulnerable in our Society.