Belonging, school support and communication: Essential aspects of school success for students with cerebral palsy in mainstream schools

Purpose Investigate successful school experiences for students with cerebral palsy (CP); identify and describe learning and participation at school. Methods A phenomenologically-informed qualitative study using in-depth interviews with students (n = 7), parents (n = 11), teachers (n = 10), principals (n = 9), and allied health (n = 10) was conducted to investigate multiple perceptions. Thematic analysis occurred within and between groups. Results Three themes were identified: Students belong and benefit; Classroom enablers that help; Communication is crucial. Conclusions Students’ school experiences are enhanced by innovative classroom solutions that support classroom learning and involvement. Students rely on a diverse team that communicate well and implement individualised solutions that enable success.