Understanding Inclusive Education: Current Approaches

Unlock the knowledge and confidence to remove barriers to inclusion

This five-week course from The Open University will develop your awareness of current perspectives relating to the needs of babies and children under 12 years old who are perceived as having special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), or in need of additional support.

You’ll start by exploring ideas of inclusion and inclusive practice in different care and educational settings with a focus on how it’s understood, and the principles and barriers to applying it.

Deepen your understanding of conditions relating to children with special educational needs

You’ll look at the process of early identification and assessment of special educational needs and disabilities.

Engaging case studies will develop your understanding of how certain conditions are identified, including cognitive and learning, communication and interaction, social and mental health, and sensory or physical needs. These include Corley who shares his experiences of living with severe developmental verbal dyspraxia.

Discover the importance of listening to children, families, and professionals

Through video and audio clips, you’ll learn about the importance of engaging parents, carers, and professionals in decision-making processes relating to children. You’ll also examine how social, cultural, and language differences impact on views of special educational needs and disability.

By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to assess and support children’s unique individual needs. Your learning will give you the confidence to challenge and remove barriers to inclusion in care and education and create plans that improve the lives of the children and young people you support.

This course is for learners who would like to develop their skills and knowledge of special educational needs and disability.  It will enhance the professional development of those working or volunteering in care or educational settings with children aged under 12, including pre-school education and care settings for babies and children aged 0-5 years. It’s also suitable for parents and carers who wish to extend their knowledge in the area.  

Learning will be beneficial to anyone seeking a career in teaching or supporting learners in schools or other contexts. It will also be useful for professionals working in agencies across the health and social care sectors, for example social workers or health visitors. 

• Contemporary perspectives on inclusion
• Welcome
• Inclusion: from principles to practice
• Inclusive pedagogy
• Identifying and removing barriers to learning
• Reflect and review 
• Identification and assessment
• Early identification
• The sooner the better?
• The role of the designated person
• A graduated approach to assessment
• Reflect and review
• Educational needs and specific conditions / areas of need
• Areas of need
• Dyspraxia and developmental verbal dyspraxia
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Reflect and review
• Engaging with parents/carers and other professionals
• Parent partnerships 
• Including parents and carers
• Including other professionals
• Reflect and review
• Cultural differences and SEND
• Culture and inclusivity
• Gender difference, culture and ethnicity
• SEND and linguistic diversity
• Reflect and review