Authors: Henry Wood, Karen O’Farrell, Caroline Bjerk-Andersen, Cate Mullen, and Hanna Kovshoff
Published: 2019
Publication: Educational Psychology in Practice

This small-scale research project investigated the impact of a Person-Centred Planning (PCP) tool – Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) – with children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in mainstream settings. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the perceived impact of the PATH process for three secondary-aged male students, three parents and the member of school staff who conducted the students’ PATH. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, which resulted in four main themes: usefulness of the graphic, positive effects, child-centeredness, and possible barriers to successful implementation. PATH was described as having a variety of useful benefits, such as increasing CYP’s confidence and motivation. In addition, barriers to successful implementation of PATH were identified by participants, which in turn may limit its impact. In particular, families and children identified that they would benefit from receiving additional information and guidance about the process before the meeting to maximise its utility.

Wood, H., O’Farrell, K., Bjerk-Andersen, C., Mullen, C. & Kovshoff, H. (2019) The Impact of Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) for Children and Young People. Educational Psychology in Practice, DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2019.1604323

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