Post-16 Transitions: a Longitudinal Study of Young People with ...

Appendix One: Wave 2 survey
Summary of the Wave One baseline study
In Wave 1 of the research, interviews were conducted with 617
SEN Co-ordinators (SENCOs)/teachers, 2,313 young people and
2,365 parents/carers.
Sampling took place at three levels. Firstly, the project team
initially approached a sample of Local Education Authorities
(LEAs) in order to ask permission to approach the schools within
these LEAs.
The second stage was to approach schools within the LEAs that
granted permission. The SENCO/teacher at each school was
asked to provide background information on a maximum number
of ten eligible pupils: demographic characteristics, SEN profile,
special educational needs support offered, educational attainment,
absences and exclusion, transition planning and careers education
and advice. Interviews were also conducted with the
SENCO/teacher at these schools.
Finally, those schools that agreed to take part in the study were
asked to provide contact details of eligible young people and their
parents/carers who had agreed to take part in the research (ie
after the schools had conducted opt-out procedures). These young
people and their parent/carer were contacted for interview
during 2000/01.
Sample design for Wave 2
As there had been a substantial period of time between the Wave
1 and Wave 2 surveys, a high rate of attrition was expected. In
view of the need to ensure an adequate sample size for analysis, as
well as the follow-up interviews with young people and their
parent or carer who took part in the Wave 1 survey (the Wave 1
sample), the second stage of the survey involved additional
interviews with a new sample of young people and their
parents/carers (the top-up sample).
Post-16 Transitions of Young People with SEN: Wave 2 147