Getting inclusion right is key to building a society we all want, says Geoff Barton. As social historian RH Tawney reminded us,
“what a wise parent would wish for their children, the state should wish for all its children”. This debate is often about children labelled as having special needs and disabilities (SEND), but it's about something more fundamental: what kind of society are we shaping and how should our state education system help all children thrive, achieve, and belong?
Geoff Barton has chaired the independent taskforce on inclusion for the Public Policy Reform (IPPR), listening to youngsters, parents, teachers, and experts on what truly inclusive education looks like.
Author's summary: Inclusion is key to building a desired society.