Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Not Addressed
Publish a clear definition of inclusive education with rationale and good practice examples.
Conclusion
It is unacceptable that a clear definition of inclusive education is still lacking. The Department must publish a definition of inclusive education and rationale for this vision alongside examples of good practice across different phases of education and settings within the next 3 months. Continued ambiguity undermines progress and accountability. (Recommendation, Paragraph 35)
Government Response Summary
The government details its commitment to reforming the SEND system and improving inclusivity through various initiatives but does not commit to publishing a departmental definition of inclusive education, rationale, or examples within the requested three months.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
As part of our Plan for Change, we are committed to reforming the SEND system to deliver an excellent, inclusive education for every child and young person with a world class curriculum and highly trained, expert staff at every phase of learning. We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools to ensure they have the tools to better identify and support children before issues escalate. In December 2024, we created an Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, led by Tom Rees, to advise the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister of State for School Standards on how to drive inclusive education practice. Our new team of expert Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) advisors will also work with mainstream schools to become more inclusive places as one of four priority areas for improvement. The RISE advisors include leaders from the SEND and alternative provision sectors, with a track record of improving schools, who will work with schools and their responsible bodies to drive improvement. They will work directly with schools through bespoke targeted intervention, and support the identification and dissemination of effective inclusive practice as part of the RISE universal improvement offer. The government aims to deliver a rich, broad and inclusive reformed curriculum and commissioned an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review July 2024. Furthermore, for the first time Ofsted have set out an explicit focus on inclusion in their new framework, gathering evidence on factors from school culture to assessment of need. The new inspection framework came into effect on 10 November.