BY The Inclusive Classroom: A new approach to differentiation

I have been delighted to read ‘The Inclusive Classroom’ by Daniel Sobel and Sara Alston over the holiday break. Inclusion should be on every educator’s priority list for 2022. This is one of those books that you wish you had read in teacher training as Sarah Bailey notes.The Inclusive Classroom is all about how to do inclusive teaching in a stress free and timesaving way. Sobel and Alston make the point that SEN does not have to take up huge amounts of time and school budgets. They present a wholly practical approach of workable tweaks and adaptations that any primary or secondary classroom teacher can use to differentiate children with SEN.As a former teacher and headteacher I have always gravitated towards the practitioner end and what is useful. All too often pedagogy leads our early career teachers (as well as seasoned professionals!) up lofty theoretical paths that are not grounded or easily utilised in everyday practice. The Inclusive Classroom is a refreshing and essential pre-curser to learning in 2022. It offers new approach to differentiation which has never been as urgently required as it is now with our many post-pandemic student issues, including any child who requires additional educational support for cognitive and neurological needs, social and psychological needs as well as the physical and medical. And this may go significantly beyond the official SEN register as the authors point out - not to mention students who are struggling to master a new language to learn in.I think that Sobel and Alston also direct us back to SDG4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

After seeing such good reviews my expectations were high. However for me the book was teaching me to suck eggs. The tag line ‘a new approach to differentiating’ is not accurate, in fact the ideas in this book are extremely tried and tested and whilst it is all correct, there is nothing new about the contents. .

I have even teaching for almost 30 years and I have read a lot of books along the way. I found this book really insightful and helpful. It was easy to read and full of practical tips, personal reflections and is backed with research and case studies. I would highly recommend to any teacher at any stage of their career, TA, SENCO or parent.

As a parent, I am not this book's target audience. However, as a parent of a child with SEN, I am only too aware of how much classrooms and spaces where children are educated can be excluding and sometimes actively harmful. This book opens up, in a very practical way, steps that educators can take to help include all the young people in their care. As the authors of this book argue, surely this is best not only for those deemed to have SEN but for all children who we want to grow and learn in an environment where difference is valued and no-one is left out. I hope the teachers my children meet over the years will have read this book and I may help that happen!

A great resource for anyone working in the classroom. Full of real life examples and advice.