Inclusion: Dealing with Special Needs in the Classroom – (Certificate)

The successful implementation of any inclusive policy in education is largely dependent on the willingness of teachers in mainstream schools and educators to support inclusive education.
In the Netherlands, children with special educational needs (SEN) are increasingly being educated in mainstream school environments. Some teachers find it difficult to deal with the changing classroom population. Although there is a growing recognition that teachers need to be trained to become equipped to teach effectively in inclusive schools, less attention is paid to the influence of attitudes toward inclusive education. This course focuses on future teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with SEN.
Students will be introduced to the inclusion policy in education in the Netherlands. We provide a historical perspective on this topic and focus on students’ own personal teaching practices related to inclusive education. A field trip to a school of special education and to a mainstream school is implemented in the program. In workgroups, activities are implemented around the main question: What competences do general education teachers and special education teachers need to be competent inclusive teachers?