European Inclusive Learning Hub

The project aims to support schools/LCs to focus on equity and inclusion in order to provide a quality education and raise the achievement of all learners. It is organised according to key questions relevant to the day-to-day practice of school leaders and teachers in order to provide concrete guidance.

The Raising the Achievement of All Learners in Inclusive Education (RA) project was conducted by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education (the Agency) between 2014 and 2017. It worked closely with three learning communities (LCs).

The project studied these schools, in three different country contexts, to ‘test’ ideas and share practice within and among them. It also established an international learning community that – through school/LC visits and the use of an online discussion forum – facilitated discussions with school leaders and researchers from 29 participating countries.

This guidance proposes specific actions that are required individually and collectively to raise learner achievement, together with corresponding key messages.Each section of this guidance relates to an action/key message and justifies this approach to raising achievement, with reference to research.

In the early stages of the project, the Agency team carried out a review of recent research to ensure that LC developments were evidence-informed. Throughout the project, researchers and leaders shared research and practice examples on the forum in response to questions from LCs and participants.

This guidance complements other RA project outputs, which include:

• The international literature review: This provides a summary of recent research, including contributions from 22 project countries. It highlights strategies that can support school improvement and raise achievement through collaborative approaches.

• Raising the Achievement of All Learners in Inclusive Education: Lessons from European Policy and Practice: This report outlines policy and practice around raising achievement in participating Agency member countries, with reference to project findings and research. It makes some policy recommendations to address key challenges.

• Guidance for Teachers and Leaders 

• Raising the Achievement of All Learners: A Resource to Support Self-Review: These materials were developed and trialed with the LCs during the project. They are designed to be used for school self-evaluation and to consider the support needed from the national policy context. 

This guidance proposes specific actions that are required individually and collectively to raise learner achievement.

The need for the project:

This co-operation focused the project firmly on the challenges that teachers and leaders face as they support young people’s learning on a daily basis – working closely with parents/carers, other professionals and members of the wider community.

The guidance chapter includes:

1. Create a raising achievement culture such as: a) Establish Inclusive School Principles, b)Enable access and raise expectations, c)Focus on well being, d) Build trusting relationships 

2. Lift limits on learning such as: a) Understand inclusive pedagogy in practice, b) Focus on learning 

3. Develop a system of mutual support  such as: a) Work in multi-professional teams, b) Make the best use of support staff, c)  Provide on-going professional learning opportunities,                d)Engage in collaborative activities that focus on school priorities

4. Nurture all learners such as: a). Increase learner-oriented activities, b) Develop a repertoire of learning approaches

5. Share leadership such as: a) Turn challenges into opportunities, b) Develop a network of colleagues.

6. Focus on what matters such as: a) Identify barriers to participation and engagement, b) Focus on fair access.

7. Achieve more together such as: a) Build partnerships with specialists, b)  Develop special schools as resources, c) Involve families, d) Create school-community partnerships

Equipment: PC and Internet access    

Costs: Free