Articulate your schools commitment to inclusive practice
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Understanding what inclusive education means’
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Go to top of current page: Articulate your commitment to inclusive practice
Respond to concerns
Respond to concerns
Some parents may fear that including students with disabilities will negatively affect their children’s learning. Mediate these issues by addressing misconceptions.
Talk about the benefits of diversity
Talk about the benefits of diversity
"If you want your son or daughter to be more empathetic, to be a full human, she or he needs to be exposed to difference."
Mark Spooner
No captions or transcript
Mediate parental concerns
Mediate parental concerns
Identify questions from the community that staff may need support to negotiate.
Develop a shared understanding of your school’s inclusive practice.
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Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga (opens in a new tab/window)
Support your staff
Support your staff
The school board is responsible for ensuring the school has the capacity and capability to meet the needs of all students who are entitled to enrol at the school by:
- making sure every board member understands the board’s legal and ethical obligations to provide a high-quality education for all students who choose to enrol at the school
- developing realistic goals and strategies for the school through the school charter and the school’s strategic and annual plans
- monitoring the performance of the principal to ensure that they are meeting the school’s legal obligations and the board’s goals
- communicating with parents and the local community to ensure that their experience of the school is positive and that their needs are being met
- budgeting for adequate resources to enable the principal to effectively meet the goals and objectives the board has set
- supporting the principal to seek help and advice from the community, other professionals, the Ministry, or other stakeholders as required to ensure that every student enrolled at the school experiences an education that meets their individual needs.
Understand the principal's role
Understand the principal's role
The principal is responsible for building teachers’ skills, expertise, and confidence by:
- giving teachers release time to connect with others and build their knowledge
- connecting teachers with in-school supports, including other teachers who know the student well or have experience of working with a student with similar needs
- connecting teachers with outside agencies and experienced external colleagues and encouraging them to work in partnership with these people
- connecting teachers with parents – they are the experts on their child
- forming clusters with other schools to facilitate staff training and development
- supporting collective responsibility for all students in your school
- supporting teachers to share classroom practices, learn from each other, and problem-solve together.
Useful resources
Useful resources
FAQs on schooling for disabled children and young people
Read time: 21 min
A list of questions and answers about schooling for students with additional needs.
Publisher: Inclusive Education Action Group
Download PDF
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.
Learning better together research DVD
This video outlines aspirations for school communities for the inclusion of all students in their schools.
Publisher: IHC New Zealand
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Understand inclusive education”:
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Current page Articulate your commitment to inclusive practice
Return to the guide “The role of school boards”
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: The role of school boards
Strategies for action:
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Understand inclusive educationShow suggestions for Understand inclusive education
- Identify what makes an inclusive school
- Identify barriers to inclusion
- Articulate your commitment to inclusive practice
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Meet legal responsibilities and obligationsShow suggestions for Meet legal responsibilities and obligations
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Review planning, monitoring, and reporting obligationsShow suggestions for Review planning, monitoring, and reporting obligations
