• The Open University

Understanding Inclusive Education: Children’s Individuality

Explore inclusive education from a unique child’s viewpoint to realise the benefits of a child-centric approach.

Father and son playing with play dough
  • Duration

    5 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Develop inclusive education by putting the unique child at the centre

Designed by experts at The Open University, this five-week course will develop your awareness of special educational needs and disability (SEND) from the perspective of children, and how an inclusive environment provides support for them.

Explore key children’s rights legislation

You’ll start by exploring the background to children’s rights, with a focus on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC 1989). You’ll consider how this is implemented in educational settings from the perspective of the child, including their right to education, to be heard, and to be involved.

Examine how children see their own needs and rights

You’ll develop your understanding of how children perceive their own disability and the impact it has on them. 

Children have different needs at different times. Throughout this course, you’ll build your awareness of how to identify children’s educational needs, learning vital strategies you can use to adapt your approach and provide the right support.

You’ll meet Ava, whose story about living with non-verbal, autism and masking, ADHD and dyslexia will help you develop ideas of how to integrate inclusivity and the child’s voice into an educational setting.

Gain the skills to create inclusive environments for children

This course will give you the skills and knowledge to understand how to maximise participation, take child-centred approaches, and create accessible resources.  

By the end, you’ll take away a deepened knowledge of how to plan inclusive educational provision that represents the views of children. As a result of your learning, you’ll feel informed to further appreciate the uniqueness of every child within the context of the broader system of diagnosis and provision.

What topics will you cover?

  • Children’s rights: The unique child versus inclusion 
  • Children’s voices: How do special educational needs or disability impact on the child?
  • The unique child: Knowledge and understanding of conditions 
  • Alternative communication: Planning inclusive provision 
  • Enabling learning: Starting with the child 

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate an awareness of statutory guidance implemented in educational settings, including codes of practice
  • Reflect on the role of children’s voices and their participation in decision-making
  • Develop an appreciation and awareness that each child has a unique set of needs
  • Identify strategies of support for individual children
  • Apply ideas into everyday practice

Who is the course for?

This course is for learners who would like to develop their skills and knowledge of special educational needs and disability. It will enhance the professional development of those working or volunteering in care or educational settings with children aged under 12, including pre-school education and care settings for babies and children aged 0-5 years. It’s also suitable for parents and carers who wish to extend their knowledge in the area.  

Learning will be beneficial to anyone seeking a career in teaching or supporting learners in schools or other contexts. It will also be useful for professionals working in agencies across the health and social care sectors, for example social workers or health visitors. 

Who will you learn with?

Kathryn is an educational consultant who has been working in education for over 10 years. Kathryn is completing her PhD in inequalities and inclusion in education and is a teacher specialising in SEN.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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