Acorn SCP is one of121 School Completion Programmes in Ireland. The School Completion Programme CSCP) is a programme of support for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. A key aim of SCP is improvement of school retention and attendance rates. The OECD Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland (2024) refers to the fact that the SCP is widely appreciated within the Irish educational system. Using a case study of one primary school, Fenwick and Kinsella (2020) also found SCP to be perceived as a valuable and effective service for the students and teachers in the school. However, notwithstanding research that captures the effectiveness of SCP and the shared aims and aspects of provision and principles for SCPs, it is important to note that there is no agreed operational framework model for the School Completion Programme that explains how it works. Smyth (2025: xi) refers to the need to 'build and maintain a shared vision of SCP'. Lacking a shared vision and agreed operational framework, leaves a gap in terms of understanding why SCP is effective.