Two important features in an Inclusive school in my views are:
1) Teacher and whole school attitude towards inclusion.
Everyone needs to be on board. Therefore policies should be put in place to be
adopted and effect change. Whole school policies create a culture that welcomes
all students and celebrates diversity.
2) Equip teachers and classrooms with necessary
resources. Ensure classroom teachers have core competencies to teach mixed
ability classes. The core competencies are achieved through teacher training
that adequately prepares teachers for the mixed ability classes they will teach.
Have the teachers be supported by trained staff. In my country, some schools
facilitate a trained Teacher’s Aide to assist students with specific needs. I love
Lydia’s idea of having a Resource Room.
There are so many other factors that can contribute to an
inclusive school, one of which is physical changes in the infrastructure to
cater for the students who will need it. In my country some schools have taken
the initiative to install ramps and railings for students whose mobility are
challenged and even outfitted washrooms to cater for such.