Broadbent, Hannah;
(2023)
The role of student support workers from external organisations in Alternative Provision; a case study involving ‘School-Home Support’ practitioners.
Doctoral thesis (D.Ed.Psy), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Students excluded from mainstream schooling and referred to alternative provision (AP) often present with complex support needs. However, the quality of provision in this sector varies hugely, and there remains a pressing need to develop policy and models of good practice. Although emerging data indicates there may be added value from embedding student support practitioners from external organisations such as ‘School-Home Support’ (SHS) into AP, this study sought to address the paucity of research exploring how these practitioners work in AP and the factors facilitating or impinging upon their role in supporting these students. The role of SHS practitioners (SHSPs) in AP was explored using a multiple-case study approach. Observations of SHSP practices using ethnographic principles and semi-structured interviews with SHSPs, senior leadership team staff, and students were conducted across two AP settings. Using reflexive thematic analysis, unique as well as shared patterns of meaning were interpreted within and across the different sources; providing rich insight into the systems, nuanced interactions, and challenges faced by these practitioners. SHSPs were perceived to provide holistic support across multiple systemic levels in order to promote improved attendance, engagement and behaviour. They were seen to bridge gaps between the school, students, families, and agencies, particularly where other staff lacked time, resources and expertise. Underpinned by a focus on developing secure relationships with students and their parents, they were seen to break down barriers of epistemic distrust, and fostered student and parental autonomy and independence in order to have wider-reaching and more sustainable impact. In an education system that presses towards the exclusion of some of our most vulnerable young people, the findings provide pivotal insight into the additionality and inclusive practices that specialist practitioners in AP can offer, and has implications for other professionals such as Educational Psychologists working with these students.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Ed.Psy |
| Title: | The role of student support workers from external organisations in Alternative Provision; a case study involving ‘School-Home Support’ practitioners |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2023 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: | Alternative Provision, Support Workers, School-Home Support, Relationships |
| 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.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10175916 |
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