Taking next steps

Scaling involves bringing more people “on board” – i.e. expanding the perspectives – pupils/students, teachers/schoolleaders/staff, parents/caretakers, wider stakeholders – or expanding to other departments or schools that implement the change. This might require changes at the levels of structures or systems to sustain the change – e.g. related to policy, hiring and staffing practices, budgeting, and so forth.

Optimalization is focused on a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability to emerging needs and challenges. 

1. Expanding to other stakeholders

Broadening the reach of inclusivity will require the involvement of other stakeholders - such as students, teachers, (in)formal school leaders, staff, caregivers, and the broader community - and expanding inclusive commuinities to other departments or groups. 
To ensure broader buy-in, there should be attention to the needs and concerns of new actors that are involved in the process (e.g. in terms of professional development support).

2. Embedding inclusive communities

Scaling up and making inclusive communities sustainable and impactful across the entire school will require changes at multiple levels—organizational, institutional, or pedagogical—to maintain momentum and ensure long-term success. The adjustments could include updates to policies, recruitment practices, budgeting, and resource allocation, all aimed at embedding inclusivity more deeply into the DNA of the school community. 

3. Establishing feedback loops

Optimization involves refining all aspects of change (policy, practice, etc.) based on a growing level of experience, knowledge, and insight (including data). This will require the establishment of feedback loops where regular feedback is collected from all stakeholders and assessed through the lenses of equity, diversity, and institutional/organizational core values.  This facilitates ongoing dialogue and adjustment and creates an openness to continued growth and change and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability to emerging needs and challenges.