This descriptive case study examines the perspectives, beliefs and practices of independent private schoolteachers in India about the inclusion of students with special educational needs in general education classrooms. Data were collected through one-to-one interviews and focus group discussions with 10 teachers in an independent private school…

Inclusive education is a multifaceted approach that celebrates diversity, acknowledges individual differences and fosters an environment where all students can thrive. This reflective piece delves into key components of inclusive education practice, including embracing diversity, implementing differentiated instruction, fostering collaborative…

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) landscape in England is bleak. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pupils with SEND has increased. There is a shortage of places available in specialist SEND provision, and many pupils with SEND are being educated in alternative provision settings which arguably do not meet their needs.…

Those who work in education strive to create more inclusive environments in school but are often stymied in their efforts by challenges coming from many and varied directions. Politicians, for example, exhort us to be more inclusive but create conditions that encourage separation and exclusion, and inclusive education's history in special…

To examine the current status of early childhood inclusive education in New Zealand, this article highlights the country's overall structure of inclusive education and other services for individuals with special needs. The unique features of early childhood special education services are also highlighted. Challenges to enhance the quality of…

Although there is much research regarding the inclusion of pupils with additional support needs (ASN) in mainstream secondary education, there is little research specifically exploring the perspectives of staff who support and teach this population. This small-scale exploratory study in a Scottish secondary school investigated staff perspectives,…

This article reports on a project based on the development of a model for outreach to support three federated mainstream primary schools in London, England to develop their understanding and practice with children with autism. The principal aim of the initiative was to ensure that knowledge and capacity within the participating schools increased;…

The inclusion 'ideal' is one which has been both celebrated and maligned. It paved the way for equality; but also, out of its diversity sprang many misconceptions and concerns for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It is within this maelstrom of difficulty that the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) role…

This study explores the choices made by parents of children who are severely hearing-impaired or deaf. It also gives ideas how to support these children at school. In a six-year longitudinal study, eleven families completed the study questionnaire four times. Questions were related to choice of hearing aid, methods of communication and educational…

Through a qualitative rights informed study, using semi-structured interviews and a range of participatory approaches, seven autistic teenage boys in Northern Ireland discuss their educational experiences in mainstream school and within an Alternative Education Provision (AEP). Their experiences and advice demonstrate that the relational aspects…

Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) contains the first legal enshrinement of the right to inclusive education for people with disabilities. The UNCRPD maintains that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have a basic human right to be educated in mainstream…

The number of teaching assistants (TAs) in schools in the UK has risen in recent years, but there remains a lack of clarity about the roles being undertaken by these support staff. This article reports findings from a study investigating how the TA role is understood both by the pupils being supported and by TAs themselves. Eleven students with…

The experiences of seven Australian senior secondary school students with vision impairment attending mainstream schools in Victoria were explored to gain an understanding of the support mechanisms operating to allow them access to an inclusive education. This qualitative study primarily used the in-depth interviews of students, augmented by brief…

This study explores the extent to which the issue of special educational and training needs for persons with disabilities is addressed in the education and training policy of Ethiopia, with a specific focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Focus group discussions and interviews were used to assess the content of the…

This article illustrates, through the story of one mainstream primary school, the tensions between the inclusion agenda and the standards agenda. The school is situated in an area of social deprivation and nearly half of the school population have been identified as having special educational needs. The story presented in this article illustrates…