Inclusive Teaching in the Classroom

Holy Cross believes that all pupils can achieve and thrive. Every learner is challenged and supported to achieve their outcomes through a carefully considered curriculum, clear identification of need and reasonable adjustments in the classroom. Pupils are encouraged to be ambitious.

Inclusion is a whole-school responsibility. At Holy Cross, we work in collaboration as departments to ensure a shared ownership, putting inclusivity at the heart of our curriculum. Our universal strategies support everyone to achieve their outcomes.

All teachers teach pupils with SEND and each class is taught by a subject specialist which benefits all pupils. This ensures pupils receive high-quality, evidence-informed approaches from class teachers who have clear pedagogy of individual starting points and a robust understanding of each learning journey.

Holy Cross invests in sustained professional learning. We create consistent systems and evaluate what truly matters. With clear lines of communication, referring concerns and information sharing, all staff are aware of how to identify and support the needs of learners in their classrooms.

At Holy Cross, we adapt access, not ambition. We have an expertly designed curriculum available for all learners with opportunities to assess understanding throughout lessons. Pupils’ thinking is scaffolded to develop independence, and needs are responded to appropriately, whilst maintaining ambitious learning goals.

At Holy Cross, we acknowledge the cognitive overwhelm pupils face in the classroom. To support this, we make abstract concepts concrete, we use clear routines, checklists and visual aids. Learning may be chunked into manageable steps, and organisational skills will be explicitly modelled. These core principles are embedded throughout our broad and balanced curriculum.

At Holy Cross, we know our learners. This enables us to identify possible barriers before they arise. This identification of need allows us to offer universal support for all pupils. Our highly skilled classroom teachers then include purposeful adaptations where required, using targeted support where the barrier remains. The impact is reviewed and shared across departments.

Our large team of Teaching Assistants (TAs) complement the excellent teaching available for all pupils. They have clear roles and use prompts and questions to encourage thinking and deepen understanding. Throughout the 5-year journey at Holy Cross, support will fade as pupils develop skills, confidence and independence, in preparation for post-16 learning.

Our carefully constructed curriculum clearly outlines the learning journey. Pupils will move through this at a pace which is suited for them. There are clear opportunities for retrieval practice to secure foundations and to be able to move learning forward. We have robust assessment opportunities to check what has been retained and inform next steps.

Holy Cross believes that inclusion is about participation, connection and belonging. Every learner deserves to be challenged with the right level of support. Universal provision comes first; it benefits the whole class before amending and making changes to what support is available without changing the goal. Our clear routines support independence. Teaching Assistants promote thinking skills and pupils celebrate their successes.