Constarium
← Search

Data · dataset · 2026

Supporting children looked after (CLA) in post-primary school: a focus on transition support and staff experiences of the key adult role in the early post-primary years

Listed in ZivaHub and Deakin Research Online and DMU Figshare — shown once because both records carry DOI 10.17034/32637570.v1

Statistics from The Department of Health (DoH) show that over the last 10 years there has been a 37% increase in the number of Children Looked After (CLA) in Northern Ireland (NI).

Description

Despite this, there is a dearth of literature regarding CLA and transition to post-primary school. Furthermore, less is known about the role of school staff who support CLA post-transition, the emotional impact on school staff and the support they require.

This study sought the experiences of post-primary school key adults who support CLA after transition to post-primary school. The study aimed to address who was carrying out the role, how key adults perceive their role, the challenges staff face supporting CLA in a post-primary school environment including the emotional impact, if any, and the support key adults require. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was adopted.

Read the rest (3 more)

Participants were mainstream post-primary school staff in NI who were key adults for CLA. A total of 56 staff completed an online survey and seven of these key adults then participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were conducted on the survey and Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was used to analyse the survey textboxes and semi-structured interviews.

Analysis suggested the importance of promoting a positive transition experience for CLA to feel a part of the school community. Staff highlighted their frustrations, including the lack of guidance and training on their role. Further challenges included difficulties within the wider system such as limited engagement with social services and a lack of multidisciplinary working.

Staff also highlighted the emotional impact of the key adult role and the value of colleague support. Implications for Educational Psychology practice and recommendations are also discussed.<br>

Links

Where it is published

Catalogue records · 1

Topics

Provenance · 3 source records, 16 field assertions
SourceKeyLast seenRaw
ZivaHuboai:figshare.com:article/326375706 d agoJSON v1
Deakin Research Onlineoai:figshare.com:article/326375706 d agoJSON v1
DMU Figshareoai:figshare.com:article/326375706 d agoJSON v1
FieldAssertionExtractorEvidence
concepts[field].anzsrc:field:520102mapping · zivahub uct ac zavocabulary-mapper@1.0.0keywords['educational psychology']
concepts[field].anzsrc:field:520102mapping · figshare dmu ac ukvocabulary-mapper@1.0.0keywords['educational psychology']
concepts[field].anzsrc:field:520102mapping · dro deakin edu auvocabulary-mapper@1.0.0keywords['educational psychology']
concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmentalmapping · dro deakin edu auconnector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmentalmapping · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmentalmapping · figshare dmu ac ukconnector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:psychology-behavioralmapping · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:psychology-behavioralmapping · dro deakin edu auconnector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:psychology-behavioralmapping · figshare dmu ac ukconnector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:social-sciencemapping · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:social-sciencemapping · dro deakin edu auconnector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:social-sciencemapping · figshare dmu ac ukconnector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0
descriptionsource · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0/metadata/dc/description
license_textsource · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0
publication_datesource · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0
titlesource · zivahub uct ac zaconnector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0/metadata/dc/title