When is inclusion not inclusion?

When it is in the interest of the school or organisation and not in the interest of the pupil. Oh, I dare say it's not explicitly discouraged . The school website promotes an inclusive principle ... but the reality may be somewhat different within the walls.

Inclusion was a high ideal of the last government and educators alike. But what happens now in this " Govian," era? Academies that fracture the LA services that took years to build and embed into a cohesive ( well , that was the continual aim) system. This gave equality of provision across an area. Now, if each school, or each federation of schools do their own thing who is left to ensure that provision meets the needs of the individual whether you live in the North or the South , West or East of a county?

The new way or one plan is a step in the right direction. It is centered on the child and makes the very important leap to a 360 view of a child. Not just what is seen between the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm! The plan incorporates health, education and social services. For the first time... it looks positive and sensible. Help is being given to parents who will now have to become commissioners of services.

As an independent consultant I see the need for such a plan. What I am also seeing is that due to the demise of a lot good and great services an equality of provision and standards of good practise are likely to be eroded. One off visits and being called in to assess is the pattern I am seeing. How does this benefit the special needs child in the long term? The expert giving his opinion then disappearing with no continuity - surely this has to be a negative! Most of the learners I know need a consistent, almost routine approach in order to make progress. Who could afford to pay for  such an approach in this Academy time?

The days of the LA special needs services may be numbered but what is likely to take its place? Indeed , if there ever will be an alternative. So when I say "when is inclusion not inclusion," the answer comes loud and clear when the needs of the pupils becomes a price comparison or cost to the school that is unsustainable. In other words we need to plan an alternative way of doing things. Going or gone are the ways we used to do things. In this Brave New World we must seek ways to re-capture the good and explore the opportunties the one plan gives us. Or else we shall become irrelevant. I mean the specialist consultant or service that refuse to adapt to the new situation. Change is not only inevitable it is necessary - as long as we are constantly reviewing the services of provision we make in the light of the needs of the pupil.

So what is the Brave New World we are entering...... let me fill my coffee cup and get  back to you on that one!