Inclusive Education Statement for Students with Disability.

Dear parent/carer,

I am writing to inform you that the NSW Department of Education has released an Inclusive Education Statement for Students with Disability.

This is the next step in the Department’s Disability Strategy commitment to improve learning and wellbeing for students with disability in every public school. The Disability Strategy was released in February 2019, and sets out the Department’s plan for providing children and young people with disability, their families and the broader community with an education system that meets their needs.

The statement is about strengthening inclusive education for all students with disability in mainstream schools and their support classes, and schools for specific purposes.

What this means for your child

Inclusive education means all students can access and fully participate in learning, alongside their peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs.

Inclusion should be embedded in all aspects of school life, and is supported by culture, policies and everyday practices.  All NSW public schools should champion inclusive education.

Principles of inclusive practice 

The Inclusive Education statement sets out principles of inclusive practice to guide how schools continue improving.

1.        Student agency and self-determination 

2.       Parent and carer inclusion 

3.       Social and cultural inclusion 

4.      Curriculum inclusion  

5.       Workforce capability for inclusion 

6.      System inclusion 

Have your say

The Department will listen and work with students, parents and educators over 2020 on what support is needed to strengthen inclusion of students with disability. This feedback will inform an Inclusive Education Policy and practice resources.

Support materials

Additional materials to help understand this are available online at: www.education.nsw.gov.au/inclusive-education.

If you would like to find out more about this work or give feedback please email the team in the Department of Education working on this. They can be contacted on disability.strategy@det.nsw.edu.au