Page 9 - Who is losing learning IPPR Briefing & Podcast March 2025

2. Principles of Whole School Inclusion:

The report outlines four principles for successful whole school inclusion:

•Principle 1: Inclusion is built from the universal up: This emphasizes the importance of
universal aspects of school life (classrooms, teachers, routines, lessons) as the foundation of
belonging and inclusion. Current mainstream structures are seen as not inherently designed
for inclusion, with accountability measures and barriers to support hindering early

intervention.

•Principle 2: Inclusion is a culture that is led from the top: This highlights the need for
school leaders with expertise in inclusion to set the school's culture. The report recommends

professional development in this area for leaders at all levels.

•Principle 3: Inclusion is community collaboration: This stresses the vital role of actively
building positive relationships with families and local communities to improve educational

outcomes. Schools are seen as having the power to uplift their local communities.

•Quote:

"'School is any young person’s first encounter with an institution and it is incumbent upon us
to make that experience positive. The same applies to parents, with the same level of
welcome for any parent to school events, parents’ evenings or in conversations at the school
gate. Pupils and parents should feel we are one community, that the school is theirs.'" (Jonny

Uttley, CEO, The Education Alliance)

•Principle 4: Inclusion is measurable: The report argues that whole school inclusion can be
measured by systematically tracking data on exclusions across the "continuum of lost
learning" (including managed moves, absence, internal exclusion, suspensions, permanent

exclusions) and using student experience data.