Taking next steps

The Prepare phase has created a clear understanding of the focus and ambition: what is our ambition for who/at what level? Now it is time to integrate.

The Integrate phase involves implementing the plan for change, and the pedagogical beliefs and practices decided on.

1. Supporting professional development

A stronger focus on inclusive school communities will require new competencies in all individuals and roles, with an understanding that inclusive learning communities blur the lines of titles, labels and roles in favor of each individuals’ unique gifts.
This include themes like collaborative school culture, inclusive pedagogy, differentiated teaching and learning strategies, curriculum design related to inclusion, disability awareness, and models of co-development of policy-making and inclusive decision making. 
During the Integrate phase, supporting the development of these competences needs careful attention.

2. Strengthening agency

Agency is balanced with core values, need for growth and change (e.g. despite demand for traditional ways, evolution is promoted).

Developing or increasing the degree of agency of educators in their journey toward an inclusive school community involves not only targeted professional development, but also creating space for autonomous decision-making processes about the design and content of their professional development initiatives toward inclusiveness.

The use of tools related to “Understanding inclusive school communities” and the “Reflective tool” can be useful for this.