Improving Schools Developing Inclusion

While many books explore the possibilities for developing inclusive practices in schools, and ‘inclusion’ is widely regarded as a desirable goal, much of the literature on the subject has been narrowly concerned with the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs. This book however, takes the view that marginalisation, exclusion and underachievement take many forms and affect many different kinds of child. As such, a definition of inclusion should also touch upon issues of equity, participation, community, entitlement, compassion, respect for diversity and sustainability. Here the highly regarded authors focus on: barriers to participation and learning experienced by pupils the practices that can overcome these barriers the extent to which such practices facilitate improved learning outcomes how such practices can be encouraged and sustained within schools and LEAs. The book is part of the Improving Learning series, published in partnership with the Teaching and Learning Research Project.

The current emphasis on individualised intervention programmes for students with special needs may not only be impractical, but also undesirable. This book compares and contrasts special needs approaches with school effectiveness strategies. The author sets out theories about inclusive schooling that arise out of a detailed scrutiny of practice. The link between theory and practice will be welcomed by many practitioners. With extensive examples from the field to illustrate Ainscow's ideas, this is an eminently accessible text.

Inclusion has been adopted as an overall aim for compulsory education in most countries.This book explores the way teachers are prepared for inclusion in their initial and in-service teacher education.

"At a time when many schools are struggling to become more inclusive within a contradictory national policy context, this book provides some helpful practical leads. Its central message is that of the importance of developing an inclusive school culture within which every child really does matter." Professor Mel Ainscow, University of Manchester, UK "It is a most useful resource for both practitioner-researchers and for school-based initiatives. Written in an accessible style and designed in a format that makes it ideal for use in continuing professional development, it is just right for the needs of twenty first century headteachers and their schools. I highly recommend it as a stimulating and supportive springboard for fruitful dialogue." Jenny Corbett, Emeritus Reader, Institute of Education, University of London, UK This book examines and offers solutions to the challenges faced by schools in ensuring that all students are enjoying, participating and achieving in education. The authors argue that self evaluation lies at the heart of truly inclusive school development. The book focuses on supporting schools in understanding and using school based systems and processes in a joined up, meaningful and strategic way to impact positively upon the progress and participation of all pupils. These processes include: self evaluation data analysis intervention planning provision mapping target setting Each system is explored and the reader is encouraged to consider them critically in order to develop an understanding of how and why to use these systems to enhance inclusive practice throughout the school. The authors present a model of inclusive practice, 'Inclusion in Action' which demonstrates how these processes can be linked together to inform and impact upon whole school strategic planning. With case studies, examples, templates and models, this practical and accessible book responds to the day to day needs of the SENCO, teacher, leader and everyone within the school setting in evaluating and meeting the needs of all pupils effectively.

This important new book draws lessons from a large-scale initiative to bring about the improvement of an urban education system. Written from an insider perspective by an internationally recognized researcher, it presents a new way of thinking about system change. This builds on the idea that there are untapped resources within schools and the communities they serve that can be mobilized in order to transform schools from places that do well for some children so that they can do well for many more. Towards Self-improving School Systems presents a strategic framework that can help to foster new, more fruitful working relationships: between national and local government; within and between schools; and between schools and their local communities. What is distinctive in the approach is that this is mainly led from within schools, with senior staff having a central role as system leaders. The book will be relevant to a wide range of readers throughout the world who are concerned with the strengthening of their national educational systems, including teachers, school leaders, policy makers and researchers. The argument it presents is particularly important for the growing number of countries where increased emphasis on school autonomy, competition and choice is leading to fragmentation within education provision. Foreword by Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education, Boston College, USA

In this groundbreaking book, one of the world’s leading authorities on ways of developing equitable education systems addresses the greatest challenge facing education systems around the world, that of developing schools that are effective in educating all children. Using evidence from research carried over the last 25 years in many countries, Mel Ainscow explains pathways to be followed in order to turn the global aspiration for inclusion and equity into policy and practices in the field. Making extensive use of examples from different parts of the world, Developing Inclusive Schools provides: Practical guidance for teachers regarding ways of making their lessons inclusive Accounts of how this thinking has been implemented in schools Advice for school leaders on how to create an inclusive culture within their organisations Examples of how inclusion and equity have influenced national policies in different contexts Explanations of the implications for policy makers, researchers and teacher educators Developing Inclusive Schools will be of huge significance to researchers, educators and practitioners in the fields of education policy and politics, inclusion and special education around the world.

Despite consistent improvements in the school systems of over recent years, there are still too many children who miss out. It is not only children from disadvantaged backgrounds attending hard-pressed urban schools that the system is failing - even in the most successful schools there are often groups of learners whose experience of schooling is less than equitable. As a result of their close involvement with a group of schools serving a predominantly working-class community over five years, the authors of this book offer an analysis of how marginalisation within schools can arise, and provide suggestions for responding to this crucial policy agenda. They propose a teacher-led inquiry strategy that has proved to be effective in moving forward thinking and practice within individual schools. However, their research has shown that using the same strategy for system change is problematic within a policy context that emphasises competition and choice. Learning from this experience, the authors analyse the factors that inhibit the collaborative approach needed to reduce inequities that exist between the schools, in order to formulate proposals that can move the system as a whole towards more equitable provision. In Developing Equitable Education Systems, the authors focus on the way teachers’ sense of ‘fairness’ can become a powerful starting point, helping individual schools to inquire into and develop their own practice and provision. They provide practical suggestions for practitioners about ways of working that can create a greater sense of equity within particular school contexts, and highlight the barriers to a wider strategy for reducing system inequities that reside in local and national policies and traditions. At a time when government policies in many countries move to extend the diversity of educational provision - for example, through the introduction of charter schools in the USA, free schools in Sweden and academies in England - the authors also include a set of recommendations that offer a timely warning against the fragmentation of school systems in the misguided belief that competition benefits all children. They suggest that a more sensible approach would be to avoid situations whereby the improvement of one school leads to a decline in the resources available to, and subsequently the performance of, others.

The SAGE Handbook of Curriculum and Instruction emerges from a concept of curriculum and instruction as a diverse landscape defined and bounded by schools, school boards and their communities, policy, teacher education, and academic research. Each contributing author was asked to comprehensively review the research literature in their assigned topic. These topics, however, are defined by practical places on the landscape e.g. schools and governmental policies for schools. Key Features: o Presents a different vision or re-conceptualization of the field o Provides a comprehensive and inclusive set of authors, ideas, and topics o Takes a global rather than North American parochial approach o Recognizes that curriculum and instruction is broader in scope than is suggested by university research and theory o Reflects post-1992 changes in curriculum policy, practice and scholarship o Represents a rethinking of how school subject matter areas are treated. Teacher education is included in the Handbook with the intent of addressing the role and place of teacher education in bridging state and national curriculum policies and curriculum as enacted in classrooms.