“The question is not should they be here anymore. Now it’s how can we figure out how best to include them?”
How can we interrupt the isolation of disabled, challenging and other ‘different’ children and adults?
This is our lead workshop/training day and is both a values primer and a practical guide to successful strategies for developing inclusive practice in educational and non educational settings for children and young people of all ages. This is practical plus being a ‘hearts and minds’ day.
What does inclusion mean? Can we imagine what an inclusive school look like? What do we have to do?
The day gives those present opportunities to reflect on their attitudes and practice in relation to the inclusion of children and adults who are different or challenging.
The Keys can be presented as a powerful interactive Keynote for large conferences. A great way to launch a conference as the first key is ‘welcome’.
Course Content
The course answers the questions :
Why inclusion?
What is inclusion?
How do we go about including high profile children or young people?
What does inclusion have to do with me?
Best delivered over the course of a full day, ‘Keys to Inclusion’ introduces participants to 6 guiding Ideas that underpin inclusive practice.
The importance of WELCOME
Inclusion is about Adults’ learning
Taking the Long View
Giftedness as a new paradigm for understanding disability and difference
The Intentional Building of Relationships – ‘Circle of Friends’ work as an example of this
Not doing it alone – the importance of Teams in developing inclusive practice
Testimonials
‘Brilliant’
‘An unforgettable day’
‘The vision we all dreamed of today is not a possibility but a reality if we all work together and support each other’
‘The whole day had a big impact on my day to day attitudes, responsibilities and awareness of the community around me’
‘Being able to share views and opinions on what it means to run an inclusive provision/setting’?
‘Reflecting on the meaning of inclusion, I was able to visualize the past and the focus of future work’
“Everyone should go on this course – its like preparing for life”
“I thought the session was excellent- really thought provoking. (Name) and I cried multiple times during the afternoon, it really touched us. It absolutely met the objective of ‘hearts and minds’.
From a leadership perspective, I think I am always thinking about the bigger picture and the training really made me come back to thinking about individuals. I couldn’t stop thinking about what more we can do to meet the needs of some of our pupils who are struggling. It also made me consider the wider meaning of ‘inclusion’ and the fact that it means more than just SEND.”
Learning Objectives
Increased confidence regarding developing inclusive practice in mainstream schools and other settings
Access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on behaviour problems
Deeper understanding of core values surrounding inclusion of disabled and challenging children and adults
Opportunity to reflect on professional attitudes and behaviour towards parents and pupils
New skills and processes to make inclusion successful
Who Is It For ?
All staff
Heads and Deputies
SENCOs
Advanced Skills Teachers
Primary and secondary teachers
Parents
Local Authority Support Services
Early Years and School based Practitioners
How to Get Started with Keys to Inclusion
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Keys to Inclusion Book
This book explores the true meaning of inclusion—a term often misunderstood in education and beyond. Drawing on years of experience, the authors present eight practical “Keys” to inclusion, each linked to meaningful action. It’s a guide for creating real, lasting change in schools, communities, and professional practice.
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Self Paced Online Learning
The Keys to Inclusion online course explores eight powerful principles essential for making inclusion a reality in schools and communities. Through engaging content and practical strategies, participants gain insight into inclusive values, reflect on their own practice, and learn how to take meaningful action to support lasting, transformative change.
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Facilitated Process
In this interactive session, our facilitators work with a team to explore the “Keys to Inclusion” framework. Through structured dialogue and reflection, they help groups assess their current practice, identify barriers to inclusion, and develop clear, practical strategies to create more welcoming and inclusive environments for all.
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In Person Training
Our team will deliver dynamic, in-person training on the “Keys to Inclusion” framework, supporting teams to understand, apply, and embed inclusive values in their practice. Participants gain tools, insight, and confidence to lead change—building inclusive cultures within schools, services, and communities that support everyone to belong and thrive.
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Hear from others
Watch this video to discover how the Keys to Inclusion course inspires real change. Hear firsthand reflections from participants in a session led by Colin and Jacqui Newton in County Durham, as they share insights, challenges, and the impact of exploring practical strategies for creating truly inclusive environments.