IncludED

In recent years, the conversation around inclusion in schools has evolved. Many institutions have experimented with new support roles designed to help teachers, directly or indirectly, implement inclusive practices more effectively.  Here, I want to think about a new role, or change of title of an old one, something akin to an 'Inclusion Coach'.  But what exactly could this role entail, and how would it fit alongside other established positions like instructional coaches, dean of academics, dean of students and/ or student life? The term “inclusion” itself is debated. Some academics argue that using “inclusion” risks narrowing the role to supporting only students with formal diagnoses, whereas contemporary thinking suggests a broader, more fluid commitment to equity and access for all learners (Florian, 2014; Ainscow, 2020).  At its core, an inclusion coach could bridge the gap between inclusion policy and practice. Drawing on models such as instructional coaching, cognit...