Abstract
Aim(s)Ireland is experiencing unprecedented levels of homelessness with 14,760 people, including 4,561 children living in emergency accommodation. School principals, teachers, public health nurses, social workers and paediatricians have reported the devastating impact of homelessness on children’s physical health, psychological wellbeing, and educational development. This study explores parental perspectives on the impact that homelessness has had on children’s right to access and participate in educationMethodNineteen parents participated in semi-structured interviews to explore parental perspectives on how the family’s experience of homelessness affected their child’s access and participation in education.FindingsThe analysis suggests that parents believe their children experienced challenges in fully participating in education due to the impact that homelessness had on their health, wellbeing, relationships and educational aspirations.LimitationsThis was a small-scale study that explored parental perspectives of children’s educational experiences. There is a need for sensitive and ethical research that considers children’s voice concerning their experiences of homelessness.ConclusionsThe findings contribute to an important body of research that considers the deleterious impact of homelessness on children’s health, wellbeing and development. It is proposed that psychologists working for the National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) are uniquely positioned to inform and lead a coordinated response to assist schools in identifying, responding to and monitoring the learning and social-emotional needs of a growing cohort of children experiencing homelessness in Ireland.
Published Version
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