Elective home education in Wales: Post-16 transition and the role of the educational psychologist

Ryan, Luke 2019. Elective home education in Wales: Post-16 transition and the role of the educational psychologist. DEdPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The increasing population of home educated children and young people (CYP) in Wales is in line with the pattern of increased numbers of home educated CYP in the UK as a whole. In order to shed light on this social phenomenon, Elective Home Education (EHE) facilitators, EHE CYP, Educational Psychologists (EPs) and Trainee EPs (TEPs) were recruited to explore EHE families’ experience of Post-16 transition, and the potential role for EPs in supporting this process. Using a mixed methods design, the researcher employed online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews during data collection. Thematic Analysis (TA) and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)) analysis, as well quantitative analysis, was applied to relevant data. Findings suggested that EHE enabled numerous benefits to EHE CYP during post-16 transition, though participants also noted systemic challenges that were specific to EHE CYP. EP and TEP respondents indicated that EPs are generally not involved in work with EHE CYP, or non-EHE CYP, during post-16 transition in Wales, although several areas in which EPs could support this process have been outlined. The research highlights a number of implications for educational psychology practice which should be cautiously explored, including developing practice through increasing EP knowledge and awareness of the provisions available to transitioning EHE CYP, and increasing all new partners’ and key stakeholders’ understanding of how EPs can support them during EHE CYP post-16 transition. In order to extend and deepen our understanding in this field, it is suggested that future researchers capitalise on imminent educational changes in Wales (i.e. implementation of the ALN Act 2018) by conducting action research in order to enrich our understanding of EHE in Wales, and how best to work with this population during post-16 transition.

Item Type:	Thesis (DEdPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	27 August 2019
Last Modified:	04 Apr 2020 01:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/125115

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