Overview
I am an occupational therapy PhD student at the School of Healthcare Sciences. I am passionate about neurodiversity, equality in education, and multi-agency working, and particularly interested in how they can impact the wellbeing of children and young people.
My study is looking to establish how Welsh Local Education Authority Final Placement (LEAfP) schools, health and social care can work more effectively to address the holistic needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, as a potential means of preventing the long-term negative consequence that have been consistently identified. LEAfP schools provide placements to children who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools and evidence suggests that children excluded from mainstream education are more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system, which is referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline.
I hope this research will further contribute to our understanding of how to best support children and young people attending LEAfP schools.
Education & qualifications:
2006: BA (Hons) Multi-Media Textiles, Loughborough University (1st Class)
2019: BSc Occupational Therapy, Cardiff University (1st Class)
2019: Certificate of Excellence in Practice Education, Cardiff University (Occupational Therapy)
Professional memberships:
Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
RCOT Specialist Section – Children, Young People and Families (CYPF)
Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Children in Wales
Research
Research interests
PhD
My study is looking to establish how Welsh Local Education Authority Final Placement (LEAfP) schools, health and social care can work more effectively to address the holistic needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, as a potential means of preventing the long-term negative consequence that have been consistently identified. LEAfP schools provide placements to children who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools and evidence suggests that children excluded from mainstream education are more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system, which is referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline.
I hope this research will further contribute to our understanding of how to best support children and young people attending LEAfP schools.
This study is funded by Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) East Wales region through the European Social Fund (ESF), which is managed by the Welsh Government (Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships 2020b) and the partnering company Do-IT Solutions Ltd.
Areas of expertise
Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)
Local Education Authority Final Placement (LEAfP) schools
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Neurodiversity
Occupational therapy
School exclusion
Thesis
Challenging the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Local Authority Education Final Provision (LEAfP) Schools
Overview: LEAfP schools play an integral part in providing education to children and young people who are amongst some of the most vulnerable in Wales and are at high risk of not engaging in education. However, there is little evidence identifying the prevalence of children and young people in LEAfP schools with suspected or diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, it is unclear whether multi-agency collaboration between LEAfP schools, health and social care has been successful or how effective it is in supporting the children and young people attending LEAfP schools.
Aim: The overarching aim of my study, in partnership with Do-IT Solutions Ltd., is to establish how LEAfP schools, health and social care can work more effectively to address the holistic needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, as a potential means of preventing the long-term negative consequences that have been consistently identified.
Funding source
This study is funded by Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) East Wales region through the European Social Fund (ESF), which is managed by the Welsh Government (Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships 2020b) and the partnering company Do-IT Solutions Ltd.
