Inclusive school policy

Most settings have an inclusion policy, which is a policy dedicated to addressing inclusion for particular groups of learners, often in response to legal requirements related to educating children with SEND.

But inclusion at policy level does not stop here:

“All aspects of school policy matter for inclusion, not “inclusion policies” alone. School culture matters. Neurodivergent children and young people don’t exist in a vacuum, but are strongly affected by the knowledge, beliefs, and choices of those around them.”  

(Alcorn et al, 2023)

Inclusive policies refer to policies in any area that are designed so as to facilitate accessibility and inclusion. For example, the setting could have an inclusive policy on uniforms, seating, or arrival and departure times.

These policies should be regularly evaluated and updated to ensure the needs and values of the school community are being met. It is recommended that policies are developed in collaboration with the wider school community – including families and children – in order to reflect the unique circumstances of the setting.

A good starting point is therefore to ask “what does inclusion look like in our setting?” and consider the implications for existing policies and practices.