Innovative SEND Inclusion Strategies for Mainstream Schools

Miss L. Stephen, Director of Learning Support at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, presented a case study on Enhancing Inclusion in Mainstream Schools, at the SEND Conference 2024. The session explored Homewood School’s comprehensive approach to creating an inclusive environment for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a mainstream setting. The strategies shared offered valuable insights into how teachers and school leaders can implement inclusive practices, ensuring SEND students remain integrated within the wider school community.

Prioritising Inclusivity Across the Whole School

Inclusion at Homewood is seen as a whole-school responsibility, involving every member of staff, from school leaders to teaching assistants. This ensures SEND is embedded into all aspects of school life, extending beyond classrooms to include extracurricular activities. The collective effort ensures that students receive consistent support across all areas of the school.

Building a Broad and Balanced Curriculum

A key focus is providing SEND students with access to a broad and balanced curriculum that is both inclusive and adaptable. This involves adjusting both content and delivery methods to ensure every student can succeed. Extracurricular activities, such as trips and theatre productions, are also made accessible, ensuring SEND students can participate fully.

By supporting a broad range of needs rather than specialising in one area, Homewood requires its staff to develop expertise in multiple areas of SEND, allowing for flexible and comprehensive support across the school.

Mainstream Plus: A Flexible Approach to SEND

Homewood follows a “Mainstream Plus” model, offering enhanced provision while keeping students integrated within the broader school community. The Learning Support Hub provides key skills and foundation skills pathways that cater to students with varying needs, from Year 7 to Year 14. These provisions apply primary education principles to secondary settings, creating a nurturing environment for SEND students to thrive.

In addition, the school has developed alternative curriculum pathways for students who may not be suited to the traditional GCSE route, ensuring that all students leave with meaningful qualifications and evidence of their skills.

Measuring Progress and Impact

Measuring the effectiveness of interventions is crucial to Homewood’s approach. External systems such as Boxall and B Squared are used to track student progress, particularly for those whose development may not be reflected in standard academic reports. This ensures that every student’s progress is recognised and shared with both staff and parents.

Teacher Tools and Time for Reflection

To aid teachers in delivering inclusive lessons, Homewood provides SEND toolkits and personalised provision maps, helping staff tailor strategies to individual students. Time for reflection and collaboration is also built into the school’s schedule, allowing staff to plan and refine their approaches, ensuring high-quality learning experiences for all.

A Whole-School Commitment to SEND

Homewood’s commitment to inclusion extends beyond the classroom. The school provides hands-on learning experiences through initiatives such as a garden, forest school, and vocational opportunities in health and beauty, construction, and catering. These opportunities give students industry qualifications and help build their confidence and life skills.

Transition and Trust-Wide Collaboration

The school begins supporting SEND students transitioning from primary to secondary as early as Year 4, with extended programmes in Year 6 to ensure students are well-prepared for the change. This early intervention allows students to form connections with key staff and become familiar with the new environment before they officially join.

Collaboration across the Tenson Schools Trust also plays a vital role in the success of Homewood’s SEND provision. Shared standards for SEND support and staff development ensure that best practices are implemented consistently across schools, benefiting students and staff alike.

Embedding Inclusivity into Your School

The case study highlighted the importance of embedding inclusivity into every aspect of school life. By taking a whole-school approach, creating flexible pathways, and ensuring ongoing support, Homewood School has fostered an environment where SEND students can thrive.

For teachers and school leaders, the strategies shared at the conference provide a roadmap for improving SEND provision. By fostering collaboration, reflecting on teaching methods, and ensuring all students’ needs are met, schools can create a truly inclusive learning environment that supports every student’s success.

This was presented at our SEND Conference 2024. For more educational insights please see our latest event below:

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