How does inclusion work in mainstream schools?
What does inclusion mean for a mainstream school?
Mainstream schools face unique challenges when it comes to inclusion. There’s often a broad range of backgrounds and abilities in each class, including students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
However, it’s key for a classroom to be a welcoming and encouraging learning environment for every student, regardless of their needs, ability or background.
Some argue that students with SEND benefit from being in included in mainstream settings rather than special schools. Where students in a mainstream school do have specific needs, these must be met for a setting to be truly inclusive.
One of the most common ways mainstream schools make their classrooms inclusive is by differentiation, where teachers vary the content of a lesson or task they set to suit students of different abilities.
Inclusion in the classroom also often involves:
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using sources and literature from different cultures
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creating visual displays that celebrate different cultures and backgrounds.
The SEND Code of Practice and SEND support
The SEND Code of Practice is statutory guidance for institutions like schools and local authorities that work with young people. It aims to help schools properly support young people with SEND and ensure they are empowered to reach their full potential.
For mainstream schools, this means including young people in decision-making and providing high-quality teaching to meet diverse needs.
Challenges and support for mainstream schools
Some argue a barrier to inclusion in mainstream settings is the misconception that teaching for students with SEND is different to mainstream teaching.
This idea is explored in the Tes Magazine article: '4 barriers to inclusive practice - and how to overcome them', where researcher Rob Webster said: “one of the striking things that emerges [in research pieces] is that the characteristics of good pedagogy for kids with SEND aren’t all that different from good pedagogy, full stop”.
The article also highlights that inclusion in mainstream schools means more than just having students with SEND be present.
Many students with SEND attend mainstream schools, for example, but they often have vastly different experiences than their peers – such as being taken out of lessons for separate intervention.
Webster argues that “children with SEND should ideally be receiving direct instruction from a qualified teacher”.
Policies are being put in place to support schools in addressing these challenges. For example, the Government programme 'Regional improvement in standards and excellence' (RISE) is working to support schools in England “to break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success”.
The programme is made up of RISE teams, who are working directly with schools to improve their provision, with the programme’s ultimate aim being to improve education across England.
Learning plans and education, health and care plans (EHCPs)
Learning plans such as EHCPs are a useful way for schools to plan and implement support for students with SEND, as well as to check progress and understand how needs have changed or developed over time.
Learning plans can be especially useful in mainstream schools, as classes are often made up of students with a range of needs and varying levels of ability. A learning plan helps staff such as class teachers understand what a student needs and practically implement support for them.
Streamlining admin-heavy processes at school enables staff to spend more time supporting students. Software that supports SEND provision, such as Tes Provision Map, reduces pressure on SENCOs and helps schools manage SEND provision more efficiently.
Systems like Provision Map bring all your SEND administration together in one digital system – so there’s no risk of paperwork going missing and staff and parents can access the information they need, when they need it. These systems often enable SENCOs to create profiles for each student, so they can identify needs, plan support, and monitor the effectiveness of interventions.
Bring inclusion into your classroom with Tes
While mainstream schools face challenges in becoming inclusive learning environments, the benefits and potential rewards are huge. An inclusive environment is a more positive one for every student and has a life-changing impact on those who need it most.
SENCOs play a huge role in making a school inclusive, but from learning plans and funding evidence to communication and reviews, it can be a big task.
Tes Provision Map can help reduce your workload – so you can focus less on paperwork, and more on supporting students. Explore how Provision Map can support you with our free guide.