Understanding Inclusive Education: The Evolving Landscapes

Broaden your understanding of inclusion for children with additional needs

On this five-week course, you’ll develop your awareness of the changing perspectives relating to children who need additional support or are perceived as having special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND).

Focusing on those in pre-schools, schools, care, and other educational settings for children under 12 years old, you’ll consider values, attitudes, and beliefs about difference and how they shape inclusivity.

Explore the models of disability to understand different perspectives

You’ll start by expanding your awareness of the changing nature of language and labels relating to SEND. This will help you develop your understanding of different theoretical models, including the social, medical, and disability rights models, and to consider how these have impacted current responses to children categorised as different from most of their peer group. 

Learn from real-life case studies highlighting the inclusive educational needs of children

You’ll build your knowledge on what influences policy decisions by looking at relevant UK legislation and the global drive for change, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Learning will be brought to life by Corley who will share his story about living with severe developmental verbal dyspraxia. His account will help you understand what life is like from the perspective of someone with lived experience.

You’ll focus on the processes of inclusion and exclusion, learn about the continuum of educational need and provision, and the transition from segregation to integration.  

By the end of the course, you’ll have a broader understanding of inclusion in education and the confidence to apply your learnings with those 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. 

• Language of handicap, special educational needs and disability
• Welcome
• Language of special educational needs and disability
• Changing language and labels
• Labels and legislation
• Impact and consequences of labelling
• Reflect and review
• Models of disability
• Thinking disability
• Global perspectives on disability
• Viewing disability through models
• A question of rights
• Reflect and review
• Legislation and policy
• Thinking about policy and legislation
• Policy-making: from influence to hidden values
• Global policy perspectives
• Reflect and review
• Changing landscapes of special education
• The growth of special schooling
• A move towards integration
• Should special schools exist?
• Reflect and review
• Towards inclusion
• Understanding ‘inclusion’
• Thinking inclusion
• Defining inclusion
• Making exclusion visible
• Reflect and review