What is the impact of Family SEAL? An evaluation of the Family SEAL intervention examining the impact of the programme on children and parent/carer participants.

摘要

This research evaluated the impact of the Family SEAL (DfES, 2006) interventionudprogramme on children and parents in a mainstream primary school and PupiludReferral Unit. Family SEAL is a psycho-educational and experiential programmeudbased on the Primary Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum,udwhich aims to engage parents as partners in developing children’s social andudemotional competence. Previous research has indicated that social and emotionaludliteracy interventions and parenting programmes can results in positive outcomesudfor children in respect of their behaviour, well-being, achievement in school, socialudskills and emotional literacy. Research into the impact of Family SEAL hasudindicated that benefits associated with children’s measures of emotional literacy.udThis evaluation study aimed to examine the outcomes and the processes involvedudwith the Family SEAL programme. The research was undertaken from a criticaludrealist perspective, adopting a mixed methods research design. The impact of theudprogramme on participants was assessed by interviewing parents/carers, children,udBehaviour Support Staff (BSS - programme co-facilitators) and a class teacher.udImpact was also assessed by administering Emotional Literacy (EL) Checklists andudStrengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) to measure aspects of children’sudbehaviour and emotional literacy. Questionnaires were administered before (T1)udand after (T2) the programme to give a pre-post test measure of impact. Data wasudanalysed to investigate a change in children’s behaviour and emotional literacyudfrom T1 to T2. Qualitative data was obtained through carrying out semi-structuredudinterviews. Thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data set, using anudinductive and deductive approach.udThe research findings revealed process and outcome factors associated with theudimpact of the Family SEAL programme. Process factors included: a fun andudwelcoming environment, skilled and sensitive programme facilitators, parents andudchildren working together, the parent group and the Family SEAL programmeudcontent and structure. Outcome factors included: increased parent confidence,udparents feel more relaxed, learned behaviour and communication strategies,udimproved parent/carer-child relationships and some prosocial and emotionaludliteracy gains for children. Implications of these findings for EP practice areuddiscussed in relation to developing and delivering the Family SEAL programmeudfurther and with regard to the evaluation process itself.