ERIC Number: EJ1321762
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0264-3944
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Moving between Home and School, the Experiences of Children of Separated Parents; Discussions with Education Professionals
Pastoral Care in Education, v39 n4 p292-311 2021
Parental separation not only impacts on family relationships, it also has implications for a child's school life and opportunity to learn. However, there is little understanding of how children of separated parents navigate the relationship between home and school. This paper reports findings from discussions with education professionals in English schools about their experience of issues children of separated parents face as they move between home and school. Schools are seen as safe spaces where children who 'have less supportive home lives' can access support to promote their emotional wellbeing (DfE, 2018, p13). This study found staff in primary school tended to be knowledgeable about children's situations, whereas in secondary school, issues came to attention only when parent(s) contacted the school, or through achild's behaviour. Good parental communication was seen as significant in enabling children to move between home and school with ease. Where parental conflict 'spilled over' into schools, staff became aware of the child's situation but did not always feel able to provide appropriate support. If children wanted to talk about their family situation with someone in school, professionals thought they should have this opportunity but questioned whether staff had appropriate knowledge and skills. The paper considers ways in which staff might support these children through the introduction of awhole school approach, the new Relationships Education curriculum, small group work and work with parents. The framework for understanding children's accommodation of parental separation was considered auseful tool that could support this work (Kay-Flowers, 2019a).
Descriptors: Divorce, Family Problems, Marital Status, Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Parent School Relationship, School Role, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, Foreign Countries, Stress Variables, Student Needs, School Social Workers, Role, Assistant Principals, Conflict, Specialists
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A