Cadman, John;
(2021)
'Once they've got it, it's very hard for them to let it go': Exploring the experiences of professionals when a young person's Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is ceased.
Doctoral thesis (D.Ed.Psy), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The introduction of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in the Children and Families Act (2014) has led to significant changes in Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Despite rapidly increasing numbers of EHC plans each year, there is limited research on these statutory documents, with the majority of current literature focussing on parent/carer experiences of the application and planning process. No research to date has explored the ceasing of children and young people’s (CYP) EHC plans, or how the EHC plan comes to an end. The current study aimed to provide information about the lived experiences of key SEN professionals involved in the ceasing process, to explore how ceasing might be better monitored, reviewed and implemented. This research aimed to: understand the processes and experiences around ceasing a plan; the impact ceasing may have had on the education experiences of CYP; how statutory recommendations about the ceasing process related to practice; and explore the role of professionals (including perceptions around EPs) in involving CYP in decision-making. This mixed-methods study used a combination of questionnaires (n=40) and semi-structured interviews (n=18) with Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and SEN Officers. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics to explore trends, while qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis from interviews elicited three key themes: perceptions around EHC plans ceasing; process and procedural challenges; and factors that support decision-making processes. Implications include the need for a graduated approach to ceasing, and clearer guidance and pathways, which could help increase the capacity of key professionals to carefully review and update EHC plans. It is hoped that this would lead to the promotion of independent skills in CYP with SEN and enable smoother transitions away from EHC plans during ceasing processes.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Ed.Psy |
| Title: | 'Once they've got it, it's very hard for them to let it go': Exploring the experiences of professionals when a young person's Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is ceased |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2021. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| Keywords: | EHCP, SEN, ceased, IEP, Education health and care plan, Statement of SEN, Autonomy |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10133903 |
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