The Department for Education’s new RISE (regional improvement for standards and excellence) teams are to be charged with delivering on four “national priorities” – one of which is improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream education (DfE, 2025). This got us thinking about what successful inclusion looks like in practice.
Inclusion is often equated with treating all pupils equally, but true inclusion is about equity, providing different levels of support based on each pupil’s needs. So while inclusion ensures that every pupil feels welcomed and valued, equity goes a step further by allocating resources and support based on individual need. Inclusion without equity is incomplete (Ainscow & Sandill, 2010).
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