The focus of this presentation is on Behaviour and Education Support Teams (BEST) in Dutch primary and secondary schools and in further professional education. These teams are integrated in the school learning support structure and aim to support children and youth with behaviour, developmental/pychosocial and/or learning problems as well as their parents and schools. Activities include diagnostics c.q. problem taxation, consultation to teachers, intervention planning and coordination, service delivery and prevention. The teams are chaired by the school and consist of educational experts, a school medical doctor, a social worker and a professional from the children and youth care office. If necessary other professionals can be included from mental health and police. BEST is a major initiative to strengthen partnerships of education with health and human services to improve outcomes for children and youth.

The Dutch government supports the develeopment of behaviour and education support teams since 2002. The Netherlands Youth Institute coordinates research and development activities and has developed a quality framework and implementation tools to upscale these teams in primary, secondary and further education.

The presentation starts with an brief overview of the objectives and features of this innovative programme and small scale impact studies that have been undertaken in 2006-2010. Current research and implementation strategies will be presented and discussed. The focus is on the findings of national surveys undertaken in 2010 and on the logic and practice of this complex innovation in the Netherlands to support at risk children and youth and their schools.

The theoretical framework draws upon the work of Van Veen (2004, 2007 and 2008) in the Netherlands and Hallam (2005) and Halsey (2006) in the UK.

A.F.D. van Veen & P. van der Steenhoven (2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010). Leerlingenzorg and zorg- en adviesteams in het primair en voortgezet onderwijs en middelbaar beroepsonderwijs [ Pupil services and behaviour and education support teams in primary, secondary and further education]. Utrecht: Netherlands Youth Institute. S. Hallam et al (2005). Research and evaluation of the behaviour improvement programme. London: Institute of Education. K. Halsey at al (2006). Evaluation of behaviour and education support teams. National Foundation for Educational Research.