Dunford, Saya; (2024) Using PATH to support person-centred planning and child and parent participation within the Education, Health and Care Plan assessment process. Doctoral thesis (D.Ed.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Person-centred planning (PCP) approaches offer a valuable way for Educational Psychologists (EPs) to enable participation for children within statutory planning processes. EPs are increasingly using PCP tools such as Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) in the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) (e.g., Bristow, 2013). However, the research base investigating the outcomes of PCP within education remains limited (Hughes et al., 2019) and there have been no studies to explore the use of PATH within the EHCNA. This thesis investigated how PATH can be effectively used to facilitate children and parents’ participation within EHCNAs and compared outcomes of PATH to present EP practices. The research adopted a critical realist theoretical perspective and utilised a multiphase convergent mixed methods comparative design. 124 attendees participated in either a PATH (n=15) or traditional (n=9) EHCNA meeting facilitated by EPs from across three different Local Authorities. 86 questionnaires were completed following the meetings, five meetings were video-recorded and analysed using a systematic observation schedule, and 19 subsequent draft EHCPs were analysed using a document analysis schedule. The research found that all children actively participated in their PATH EHC meeting, compared to 22% of children who attended their traditional EHCNA meeting. Participants were generally satisfied with parents’ and CYP’s participation in both meeting types and found both meetings helpful for the EHCNA. Differences in participation experiences and practices were reported in the themes from the qualitative questionnaire data, with PATH meetings being more child-centred and leading to more meaningful contributions to the EHCNA. Generally, the child’s views were not well represented in the subsequent PATH and traditional EHCPs. Findings suggest that PATH can be used to support CYP participation in the EHCNA meeting, but that additional processes need to be in place to capture CYP’s views in the EHCP.

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