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I am currently doing my NASENDCO award and this is what I wrote last term
What is your idea of inclusion?
My definition of inclusion would be that every child as a right to access a broad and balanced curriculum no matter what their differences are. Every child has the right to achieve their full potential. This would also include all aspects of school life. Leading to a fully inclusive society where everyone is included and celebrated.
When I am thinking about inclusion, I am considering pupils’ of secondary age. My definition on seems somewhat of a holy grail in the current environment of SEN and teaching. In my opinion and experience suggestions that are written into EHCP’s do support an inclusive education for a pupil, but in reality many elements of the provision recommended are not feasible due to a lack of access to specialist support and funding. These pupils can then experience a form of exclusion because they are not having the input they require to make progress.
Having looked around it is evident that no clear consensus has been established as to what inclusion actually means. Constructs of inclusion and their interpretation are constantly evolving in relation to research and societal views at any one point in time. It also needs to be noted that the interpretation of inclusion can be influenced by political agendas.
As such, inclusion within education has been defined in relation to:
• an ideology and/or aspiration: usually linked to a human rights agenda;
• a place: usually mainstream versus special school;
• a policy: normally from central or local government;
• professional practice: i.e. ‘inclusive teaching’?