Learning Support Zones: The Unheard Voices of Students exhibiting Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

摘要

This research sets out to examine the Learning Support Zone (LSZ) initiative, introduced inudMaltese state secondary schools to promote the inclusion of secondary students exhibitingudsocial, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). A mixed-methods research design wasudemployed with the purpose of exploring the level of application and implementation of LSZudprovisions across colleges in Malta, as well as eliciting the students’ views about theirudexperience of the service and the influence this initiative has had on their life at school. Theudparticipants included in this study consisted of 18 LSZ co-ordinators and nine secondaryudstudents exhibiting SEBD. The findings stemming from this research indicate that audsignificant number of state secondary schools in Malta have subscribed to the LSZ initiative,udand have thus assimilated this provision in their respective schools. The students enrolled inudLSZs highlighted the pivotal role such provisions occupy in their education. They alsoudemphasized the effective contribution LSZs are providing to students exhibiting SEBD, inudterms of the support that is offered in coping with the difficulties they experience, inudmainstream educational settings.