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Planned inclusion bases risk becoming exclusion
Concerns raised that new school spaces may isolate students
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Monday 20th April 2026 |
There are growing concerns that the government's planned inclusion bases in schools could inadvertently become rooms for exclusion if not properly managed.
The initiative aims to provide dedicated spaces within mainstream schools for students with special educational needs and disabilities to receive additional support.
However, critics argue that if these bases are not fully integrated into the school community, they could serve to segregate students rather than include them.
For inclusion to be successful, it must be understood as a whole-school approach rather than just the provision of a separate room.
There is a risk that students placed in these bases may miss out on the social and academic opportunities available to their peers.
Experts suggest that for these reforms to work, there needs to be significant investment in staff training and a clear strategy for how these spaces will be used to facilitate genuine inclusion.
Without this, the bases may simply become a way to remove challenging students from the main classroom.
The success of the government's SEND reforms depends on ensuring that every child feels like a valued member of their school.
Source: Tes Magazine (UK)
https://www.tes.com/magazine/hub/send
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