Abstract
This study explores perspectives of primary school teachers regarding Personal Education Plans designed support the education of children in care. The study explored current policy and practice initiatives for supporting the educational rights of children in care, explored the views and experiences of teachers of Personal Education Plans, the experiences of teachers regarding multi-professional collaboration in respect of Personal Education Plans, to what extent teachers are aware of and informed of children’s education rights and considered whether there are more suitable practice models that might better support children in care achieve their potential in education. The study utilises an interpretive qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with 20 professional teachers, and an in-depth focus group to elicit their views regarding the effectiveness of Personal Education Plans. It is informed by Pierre Bourdieu’s (1984) concepts of field, habitus and capital and a children’s rights framework. Thematic data analysis elucidated four overarching themes in relation to the effectiveness of the PEP in Northern Ireland: Performance, partnership, promotion of rights and participation. The findings highlight concerns regarding education planning practices for children in care related to differences in aims versus operational reality evidencing adult-centric, paternalistic and protectionist exclusionary practices, subordinating the voice of the child, privileging academic, target driven knowledge over social and emotional knowledge of the child and encompassing professional power differentials in PEP processes. Recommendations for a more children’s rights based Personal Educational Planning process are outlined to contribute to improvements in realising the education rights of children in care.
Presenters
Patricia NichollStudent, Doctorate in Childhood Studies, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Learner Diversity and Identities
KEYWORDS
Education, Children in Care, Personal Education Plans
