Teaching is an extremely difficult profession with so many challenges to tackle on a daily basis. There are many approaches to take with students because not every pupil requires the same attention or support with their education. Some will warrant more care and one-to-one education while others require very little. Inclusive learning is an integral part of a student’s educational experience. If you’d like to find out the value of inclusive teaching and learning, continue reading below.
What does inclusive teaching and learning mean?
Inclusive teaching requires an educator to teach in a way that respects the diversity of students, removes barriers that prevent a student from learning, and enables all students to take part in learning together in order to reach their full potential.
Inclusivity in the classroom also ensures different students’ learning needs are met, regardless of their background, learning or abilities. Inclusive teaching also means not discriminating against students because of their age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or pregnancy.
Inclusive teaching can be a success when teacher and special education needs (SEN) teachers work together in the classroom, allowing students to feel integrated with their classmates. This can lead to an overall improvement in their education.
Inclusive teaching and learning provides students with the early intervention support they may require to continue their education in a general education setting, rather than a special education classroom or school.
Inclusive teaching and learning at Seashell
At Seashell, we are committed to providing outstanding education for students aged two to 19. At our non-maintained special needs school, Royal School Manchester, we offer day and residential placements for students to come from across the country.
Our students have profound and complex learning and communication difficulties and, because every child’s needs are different, our approach to education is tailored to support each individual student. Furthermore, we offer specialised care and support for individuals with learning difficulties, complex health needs, disabilities and autism.
Progress and develop
We provide a safe and calm learning environment at Seashell tailored to our students’ specific needs, helping them to develop and progress. The key to our success with inclusive learning is the strength of the relationship between our staff and students.
Advantages of inclusive learning
There are a wide range of advantages to adopting inclusive teaching and learning in the classroom. For starters, it provides a tailored approach to teaching. At Seashell all teachers and support staff receive special education needs training. The Teacher will set out a lesson plan and targets, plus support staff will work with the individual student to achieve their goals.
In many traditional educational settings, students are taken out of their classroom for specialised sessions in speech therapy, reading and other subjects. Doing so detaches them from their fellow classmates and doesn’t promote inclusive learning. Inclusivity is achieved by keeping all of the students together with a tailored teaching approach. Within Seashell, students have access to our on-site therapists who will meet as a multidisciplinary team along with Teachers and Support Staff, therapy is then embedded within the student’s education and learning.
Inclusive teaching and learning helps students to feel more comfortable in their classroom setting, allowing them to benefit greatly from their education, as they’re willing to learn more and be included in group sessions.
Another great benefit of inclusive learning in a mainstream setting is the presence of an SEN teacher within the classroom. The SEN teacher, alongside the standard classroom teacher, can break the room down into smaller groups of students and provide a more focused, tailored educational experience. It allows the teachers to better understand what each student requires and how they can learn to the best of their abilities.
The special education needs teacher is able to help every student in a classroom, not just the ones with complex needs that require a tailored approach.
Specialised support at Seashell
All of the teaching and support staff at Seashell have achieved additional specialist teaching qualifications, or are in the process of studying for them. This is reflective of our commitment to delivering high-quality levels of learning. Specialist teaching qualifications include mandatory teaching qualifications for multi-sensory impairment, visual impairment and hearing impairment. We also offer British Sign Language.
Get in touch with Seashell now to learn all about the range of services, support, and facilities available for children and young adults with SEND.
