Building Inclusive Classrooms: A Strategic Guide for SENCOs

Unlocking True Inclusion in Schools with Abigail Hawkins

Why This Training Matters for SENCOs

Inclusion is not just a policy or a checklist—it’s a culture. In this insightful training session, Abigail Hawkins, a seasoned SENCO and advocate for inclusive education, explores how SENCOs can drive real, meaningful inclusion across their schools.

With a focus on relationships and relevance, this training dives deep into how SENCOs can bridge the gap between leadership, teachers, students, and parents to build a truly inclusive environment.

If you’ve ever struggled to get staff buy-in, felt unsupported by leadership, or wondered how to measure the real impact of inclusion, this session is for you.

Key Takeaways from the Training

✅ Inclusion is a Culture, Not a Checklist

• Inclusion is an ongoing, evolving process that cannot be reduced to policies or interventions.
• It must be embedded into the daily practices and ethos of a school.

✅ The SENCO’s Strategic Role in Driving Inclusion

• SENCOs must influence leadership decisions to ensure inclusion is a priority, not an afterthought.
• Building relationships with SLT, teachers, and parents is key to enacting meaningful change.

✅ The 8 Rs of Inclusion: A Framework for Success

1. Respect – Inclusion starts with mutual respect at all levels.
2. Resources – Inclusion fails when staff lack the right tools and training.
3. Readiness – Schools should anticipate needs, not just react to them.
4. Room – The physical environment significantly impacts inclusion.
5. Response – Teachers need the flexibility to adapt strategies.
6. Recall – Inclusion strategies must be embedded, not treated as “specialist” knowledge.
7. Relationships – Strong communication across all school levels is essential.
8. Relevance – Staff must see why inclusion matters to their daily teaching.

✅ Making Inclusion Relevant for Staff

• Generic SEND training often fails because it lacks direct application to different subject areas.
• Training must be tailored to staff needs and include ongoing support, modeling, and follow-ups.

✅ SLT, Teachers, and Parents: The Three Pillars of Inclusive Change

• SLT Alignment – Inclusion should be a standing item in leadership meetings and the school development plan.
• Teacher Empowerment – Staff need practical, applicable strategies and the autonomy to implement them.
• Parent Engagement – Parents can be the biggest allies or the biggest barriers; trust and communication are key.

✅ Measuring the Impact of Inclusion Beyond Academics

• Instead of just looking at academic progress, schools should measure:
  • Belonging – Do students feel valued?
  • Engagement – Are SEND students participating in extracurricular activities?
  • Access – Can all students meaningfully engage with the curriculum?

Call to Action: Where Will You Start?

Inclusion doesn’t change overnight, but every step counts. Abigail challenges SENCOs to take one immediate action to strengthen inclusion in their school this term.

📌 What’s your first step?

• Strengthen SLT support for inclusion?
• Conduct an audit of staff training needs?
• Improve parent-school collaboration?

This training equips you with practical insights and strategies to transform your school’s inclusion culture from the inside out. If you want to move beyond policies and checklists to create lasting change, this session is a must-watch!