Parental Narratives Around Decision-Making Regarding Secondary Educational Provision for Children With an Education, Health and Care Plan

Everyone makes many decisions every day. Everything an individual says or does is the result of a decision, whether they are conscious of it or not. Some decisions involve a simple choice, whereas other decisions are more complex and challenging to make. Parents of children and young people (CYP) with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are legally entitled to be involved in the decision-making process of secondary educational provision (SEP) and can specifically name what school they would like their child to attend. Research into the experience of SEP decision-making by parents of CYP with an EHCP is limited. This research used narrative methods to explore the experiences of 4 parents of CYP with an EHCP who had recently gone through the process of choosing their preferred SEP. A social constructivist and relativist stance was taken in this research, and valued each parent’s narrative as a unique and subjective experience of SEP decision-making. Data was collected using the method of narrative interview, and analysed using narrative oriented inquiry. Analysis of each narrative generated a range of findings, which are outlined and discussed; with tentative links made to existing research, theory and policy. The Findings are also explored with parents through member checking, and the place of the researcher in the research is discussed through reflexivity. Some limitations of this research are discussed, followed by some potential implications for educational psychology practice. This research then makes some suggestions for future research, and finishes by providing a conclusion.