EXPLORING PRIORITIES & CHALLENGES IN ENGLISH PRIMARY SCHOOLS: PERSPECTIVES OF PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF AND CHILDREN ON SCHOOL OCCUPATIONS

Background: School issues are the most common referral reason to children’s OT, making a sound understanding of school occupations and common occupational performance issues experienced at school essential. Method: A... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
School issues are the most common referral reason to children’s OT, making a sound understanding of school occupations and common occupational performance issues experienced at school essential.
Method:
A mixed-methods study following a QUAL – quan design, emphasising qualitative data in analysis and interpretation (Teddlie & Tashakkori, 2009), was conducted in England. Primary school pupils, parents and school staff participated in semi-structured interviews informed by COPM (Law et al, 2014) and PEGS (Missiuna, Pollock & Law, 2004). Importance, purpose and meaning were explored through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2013), while characteristics such as relative importance were explored through statistical analysis.
Results:
Pupils not only experience difficulties in the area of schoolwork, but also with self-care occupations at school, recreation and play at break times. The perceived importance of school occupations varies between parents, school staff and children. Additionally, expectations in terms of acceptable performance and the distress caused by occupational performance issues differ. While children tend to focus on the present impact, adults tend to consider potential long-term implications. Well-being, loneliness and a sense of belonging were identified as important issues alongside academic outcomes and independence.
Conclusion:
Children, parents and school staff have unique and equally valid perspectives on school occupations and occupational performance issues experienced in school life.
Application to Practice:
Considering the perspectives of children, parents and school staff in regards to school issues is advisable. Probing clients about the meaning, purpose and importance that occupations hold for them contributes to more focused services.