“Inclusion is … the practice of ensuring that people feel they belong, are engaged, and connected. It is a universal human right whose aim is to embrace all people. It is about valuing all individuals, giving equal access and opportunity to all and removing discrimination and other barriers to involvement.” [CATIE, 2020]

The Kent Inclusion Leadership Programme ran from January 2023 through to December 2023 and included modules on:

• the effective use of resources for inclusion
• monitoring, tracking and evaluation
• inclusive working with pupils, parents and carers
• assessment and identification of needs
• developing inclusive teaching and learning
• inclusive outcomes
• developing inclusive expertise and provision.

Schools taking part in the programme worked in partnerships of 4-6 schools, peer review school processes, working collaboratively and supporting each other to:

• review the school’s inclusion practice
• share what’s working well with other schools
• develop plans for on-going development
• define the support needed to affect sustainable change.

Throughout the programme school leaders reflect on their role in school as a leader of Special Educational Needs, explore how they work as a leadership team to create a culture of inclusion and address the barriers faced by pupils in the context of the school.

They review and develop their skills to work collaboratively with other school leaders, families, external agencies and professionals to define and draw together the right support for pupils and for staff.

The focus back in school was to review what’s already working, identify what we want to develop and to work with whole-school teams to lead change going forward.