ERIC Number: EJ1150839
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0266-7363
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Evaluating the Outcomes of a School Based Theraplay® Project for Looked after Children
Francis, Yvonne J.; Bennion, Kim; Humrich, Sarah
Educational Psychology in Practice, v33 n3 p308-322 2017
Research shows that Looked After Children (LAC) may experience emotional instability which can reduce their capacity to engage with education. This study evaluates an attachment based therapeutic Theraplay® intervention designed to bridge the gap between the emotional well-being of LAC and their engagement in education. Twenty LAC between the ages of five to 11 from nine schools participated in the project over eight months. The mixed method study used a repeated measures design. Strengths and difficulties questionnaires were used pre- and post-intervention; semi-structured interviews with teaching staff were conducted and children's views were gathered. Quantitative results show a reduction in the children's total strengths and difficulties stress scores post-intervention. Qualitative feedback shows noticeable changes in the children's relationship skills, confidence and engagement with education. The complexities of supporting LAC in education and implications for educational psychology practice are explored.
Descriptors: Therapeutic Recreation, Play, Outcomes of Treatment, Intervention, Affective Objectives, Well Being, Learner Engagement, Mixed Methods Research, Questionnaires, Pretests Posttests, Semi Structured Interviews, Qualitative Research, Attitude Change, Interpersonal Competence, Early Childhood Education, Child Care, Gender Differences, Partnerships in Education, Foreign Countries, Behavior Problems, Child Behavior, Screening Tests
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A