Person centred planning 'in action': exploring the use of person centred planning in supporting young people's transition and re-integration to mainstream education

This study, by Emma Corrigan of the Plymouth Excellence Cluster and Community Psychology Service, explores the use of person centred planning (PCP) in supporting young people who have experienced school exclusion, in their transition and re-integration to mainstream settings. Young people of different ages participated in the PCP process and multiple stakeholder perspectives provided insight into the implementation and outcomes of PCP over time. Reported findings indicate a positive impact upon young people's social-emotional well-being, attendance in school, and educational achievement, and highlight a range of 'supports' and 'barriers' that can facilitate and/or obstruct the use of PCP in practice. This research contributes towards practice-based evidence at a time when legislative reform advocates a broader use of PCP to support special educational needs in the UK. Potential gains, pitfalls and further actions are considered to support a wider application of PCP within the new statutory framework and to inform implications for future practice and further research.