Young Ambassadors for Inclusion
Young people who require additional support have a wealth of information, ideas and priorities to share. It is therefore vital that we work in partnership. This is illustrated by the work of the Young Ambassadors for Inclusion [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , a group of young people who require additional support, who are nominated by their local authorities to work to improve inclusion in schools. The materials on the Young Ambassadors can be found on the National Improvement Hub page. This page provides ideas on ways that you might consult with groups of young people in your own setting.
As well as consulting with groups of young people, it is also vital to work in partnership with them to identify their individual needs, the support they require and to review whether these needs have been met.
Activity 5: Young Ambassadors for Inclusion
Watch ‘Ask us, hear us, include us (Education Scotland, 2018) to hear the views of the Young Ambassadors for Inclusion in a short film which they created for teachers.
Reflective Task: Learners’ thoughts, views and ideas
In your Reflective Log consider your own practice (with reference to the Learners’ views on inclusion summary you previously downloaded) in the following areas:
learners’ feelings
learners’ strengths and support needs
what works well from the learners’ perspectives
qualities of an ideal teacher
how to coordinate support keeping the learner at the centre.
Having watched the short film film ‘Ask Us, Hear Us, Include Us’, consider the following questions and make some notes in your Reflective Log:
a.How does the young people’s feedback relate to your own experience of supporting learners with additional support needs?
b.How do some of the summaries and quotes from the download and the film make you feel?
c.Outline one strategy you are going to try as a result of this reflection on the perspectives of the learners.
1.4 Learners’ thoughts, views and ideas