Provide staff with professional development to support their discussions about inclusion
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Modelling a commitment to inclusion’
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Address concerns
Address concerns
Some parents may feel that having students with diverse learning needs in the classroom may adversely impact on teaching and learning.
Mediate these issues by addressing misconceptions.
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Consider parent perspectives
Consider parent perspectives
Parents of children needing additional support found that some schools were not open to working with them, and they felt that they were unwelcome.
They struggled with entrenched attitudes of some school staff to their child and his or her learning or behavioural needs.
For some parents, labelling their child and themselves, sometimes linked to previous family history with the school, undermined the development of constructive relationships.
Source: Partners in learning: Parents' voices (ERO, 2008) (opens in a new tab/window)
Support school-wide inclusive practices
Support school-wide inclusive practices
- Take time to listen to teachers' needs and concerns.
- Support reflective processes such as teaching as inquiry and support teacher learning about inclusive practices
- Link teachers to experienced professionals beyond the school to develop knowledge and understanding.
- Support parent/teacher connections – they are the experts about their child.
- Connect teachers with other teachers who have experience in inclusive practices and talking about inclusion.
- Cluster with other schools for training and development.
- Support collective responsibility for students in your school.
- Support your teachers openly sharing classroom practices, learning from each other, and problem-solving together.
Talk about the benefits of diversity
Talk about the benefits of diversity
No captions or transcript
Useful resources
Useful resources
Ruia: School-whānau partnerships for ākonga Māori success
This resource supports principals and school leaders to improve outcomes for ākonga Māori by working in educationally powerful partnerships with whānau.
Publisher: Ruia
Education for All
This video looks at how a number of New Zealand schools have worked collaboratively within their communities to meet the diverse needs of the students. The educators and families involved talk about their journeys and reflect on what they continue to learn.
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Model a commitment to inclusion”:
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Current page Provide professional development
Return to the guide “Partnering with parents, whānau, and communities ”
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Parents, whānau, and communities
Strategies for action:
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Model a commitment to inclusionShow suggestions for Model a commitment to inclusion
- Value student diversity
- Understand beliefs, values, and expectations
- Partner with whānau
- Provide professional development
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Support reciprocal relationshipsShow suggestions for Support reciprocal relationships
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Partner with whānauShow suggestions for Partner with whānau
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Build community networksShow suggestions for Build community networks
