Inclusive Education: Global Meetup

Start: 2024-12-09 19:00:00 UTC Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London (GMT+00:00)

End: 2024-12-09 20:30:00 UTC Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London (GMT+00:00)

This is a virtual event

A group of four young people looking away to the distance. Sun is shining. The people are sitting down.

We are going to meet in December 9th to talk about inclusive education. The event is free and is for everyone, so register and join now!

The education of young people with special educational needs is of critical importance to the future of equality, diversity and citizenship in the whole of society.

Inclusive education means that:

  • Leaders, politicians and policymakers are educated alongside peers with a wide range of educational needs and disabilities – and this is the “norm”.

  • People with special educational needs receive a good education, which is tailored to their needs, abilities and ambitions. They feel consistently valued and welcome.

  • The “tone” of society is one of full inclusion, equality, tolerance and valuing everyone’s talents and interests.

In many countries, education is segregated into “mainstream” and “special" schools. The quality of such schools varies wildly. In the UK, far too many young people are being denied an education altogether, because of traumatic experiences in school, and/or exclusion, followed by too many systemic failures to mention.

For example, in the spring term of 2023, 264,000 pupils in England were suspended from school (source = UK Department for Education). Many suspensions can be traced back to unmet special education needs. Suspension means missed education, social stigma, and a clear message of “you are not welcome here”. It is often a first step towards further suspensions and permanent exclusion from education. It strongly contributes to a person’s identity of being “other” and “less than”.

We are hosting a meetup to discuss and discover YOUR solutions to this issue on 4 levels:

  • Personal

  • Neighbourhood

  • Governmental

  • International

So bring your solutions and let’s share and learn together. The format is simple: turn up, talk, share, listen. That’s it!

The meeting will not be recorded. You are welcome to make connections in the chat and keep in touch with each other after the meeting.

Facilitators:
Clare Tarling: Citizen Network, SEN parent and home educator (England)
Markus Vähälä: Citizen Network (Finland)
Mike Rees-Lee: Headteacher (England)