| Summary: | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is an illness with a range of symptoms, however a core feature is fatigue after physical or mental exertion (NICE, 2007). The illness affects up to 2% of secondary school children (Collard & Murphy, 2019). It is a main cause of prolonged school absence (Crawley et al., 2018), and the impacts raise potential needs across all areas of the SEND Code of Practice (DoH & DfE, 2015). A literature review for the present study found little research had been conducted into the secondary school experiences of children and young people with CFS/ME, as much as the research came from a medical perspective, of which school life was a smaller consideration.
This study aims to explore the experiences of secondary school aged pupils with CFS/ME. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two young adults who experienced CFS/ME while at secondary school to gain a retrospective understanding of their experiences. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, and four shared superordinate themes were found that highlighted the school experience with CFS/ME. These themes related to the physical impact the illness had on their schooling experience, as well as the role of systemic factors, both positive and negative. Professional implications include raising awareness of the potential social and emotional needs of young people, as well as possible learning and physical needs to consider when working with this population. Professionals should also consider ways in which young people can be represented and heard within schools so they feel supported and understood by adults to reduce barriers they may face within secondary education, particularly relating to academic demands such as the school curriculum.
|
|---|