The Department for Education has today published new guidance on inclusion bases, inclusive estates and use of the Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) to improve consistency and support mainstream schools and colleges to become more inclusive of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND.) It has also confirmed that the first instalment of the IMF will reach mainstream settings ‘shortly’.
Clare Howard, Natspec CEO said “We fully support the government’s drive to enable mainstream schools and colleges to better meet the needs of learners with SEND; setting out principles of inclusive practice and inclusive design in this guidance is helpful. We are also pleased to see specialist FE colleges being cited in the 16-19 IMF guidance as a key source of support for general FE colleges in achieving greater inclusiveness.
However, the government has previously recognised that some children and young people will always need specialist provision. In its push for mainstream inclusion, it should not overlook this. Inclusion is not something that only mainstream can offer; young people in specialist colleges frequently say that specialist provision has given them a sense of belonging, of being valued and understood, and of being supported and challenged to achieve their goals – in other words, of being included.
We believe strongly that specialist provision is essential if all learners are to have access to an education that is meaningful, aspirational and of high quality. For some learners, it is their only option. That is why we have been urging government to make the development of a fully inclusive education system its end goal – a system that includes different types and sizes of providers, both specialist and mainstream, where children and young people are placed in the setting best able to provide them with the expertise, support, opportunities and environment they need.
This guidance will support FE colleges to build on the highly inclusive practice that already exists, but focussing solely on mainstream risks letting down children and young people with a higher level of need and the specialist providers who serve them. We look forward to working with government on the necessary guidance, support and investment for specialist settings to sit alongside those announced today for mainstream.”