What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education – what is it?   

So, what’s the definition of inclusive education?  

In a nutshell, inclusive education is the practice of providing equitable access and opportunity to learning for all students, including those with disabilities and developmental challenges.   

Inclusive learning environments are designed to support and embrace each student’s individual needs, allowing them to fulfil their learning goals without discrimination or other barriers. Inclusive education adapts to each student's needs rather than placing the expectation of adaptation on students.  

Creating an inclusive learning space doesn’t stop beyond the classroom; it must be extended to the entire school. That includes the culture of the wider community, which includes all students, staff, parents, and caregivers.   

Which students benefit from inclusive education practices?   

Inclusive education practices include every student in the school; however, some benefit more than others, including:  

• Students with disability   
• Students with mental health needs  
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students  
• Culturally and linguistically diverse students  
• Students in out-of-home care  
• Rural and remote students  
• Gifted and talented students  
• LGBTQI+ students  

While inclusive education is predominately geared toward students with diverse needs, all students benefit from differentiation.  

How can teachers achieve inclusive education?  

While inclusive education should be implemented at a school-wide level, teachers can also use strategies and techniques in the classroom to foster an inclusive learning environment.  

We’ve listed a handful of actionable ways to achieve inclusive education, including:  

• Keep it personal. By familiarising yourself with your students and their personal goals, you can better understand their individual strengths and interests so that you can adapt how you teach them. By providing bespoke support, you can create a nurturing environment for the students.  
• Embrace routine. Having a consistent and structured routine can help all students, particularly those with learning and attention difficulties. This can be implemented through visual cues and calendars for students to see what’s coming up next.  
• Learn the lingo. In addition to understanding the child’s disability or learning difficulty, learn the language used when addressing the disability. Asking the child and their family what they would prefer can make the classroom a more inclusive environment.  
• Collaboration is key. Always remember you’re not alone. Connect with your colleagues to share your experiences and work together to employ strategies and techniques to help create a more inclusive learning environment.  

You can learn more in our blog about the guiding principles of inclusive education. 

Tracking learning outcomes and Individual Learning Plans  

Once you have established the learning outcomes needed in your classroom to achieve inclusivity, it’s important that you document them. This will allow you and all the stakeholders involved to have a central place to refer to for the action plan and progress against it.  

Digital tools like Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are a game changer in managing this process, allowing for greater oversight and coordinated lesson planning.  

ILPs help students with learning difficulties and special needs to work towards their educational goals at their own pace and detail any additional support they may require, such as teaching staff, therapists and other specialists.  

Want to know more about Individual Learning Plans? Find out in our ILP blog and learn how to monitor ILPs.  

Challenges to inclusive education  

One of the main challenges of creating a truly inclusive learning space for students is the prevalence of bullying and exclusion from non-disabled peers. That’s why it’s crucial that inclusive education is implemented school-wide and not just in individual classrooms.  

By building a school community that celebrates diversity and individual needs, students can feel more accepted and connected with their peers and supported by adult role models.  

Employing a whole-school focus on inclusion can also help alleviate rising challenges with behaviour management, which has been linked to students with disabilities and learning difficulties. 

While this issue isn’t one that can be solved overnight, steps can be taken, such as implementing structure, consistent reinforcement of good behaviour, praise for staying on task, and clear instructions to ensure effective student guidance.  

Final Words  

Now, that was a lot to digest! In all, fostering a learning environment that encourages students of all needs and abilities to succeed is the goal of every teacher.  

While there can be challenges to face, adopting inclusive education strategies at both a school level and in individual classrooms goes a long way toward achieving an empowering and inclusive environment for all students.  

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Learning Pathways, a purpose-built platform to effectively create and execute Individual Learning Plans to help students with special needs and learning disabilities achieve their learning goals.