Introduction
This course introduces school governors to the contested area of educational inclusion. Regardless of the type of school in which you find yourself, their approach to inclusive education will be a determining factor towards the culture that identifies their learning and teaching environment. Over the next few hours, you will be introduced to some of the principles and arguments that will have informed your school’s approach to inclusivity. You will look at differing perspectives on inclusion, in particular the way that medical and social models have influenced and shaped current thinking. You will also think about barriers to inclusion and the difference between integration and inclusion. In addition, you will consider some of the key documents, such as The Salamanca Statement and the Additional Learning Needs Code, that underpin current thinking in this area.