Inclusive school: what does it mean?
The inclusive school is a school for everyone. Students with and without disabilities learn together here. Above all, this strengthens their social skills and gives students with disabilities a positive sense of self-esteem. Are you still not sure whether an integrative school is right for your child? You can find out more about the concept here.
What is an inclusive school?
The integrative school has developed from the well-known special school system and is represented in the primary as well as in the secondary area. The concept provides for the integration of disabled children in regular classes, so disabled and non-disabled children are taught together. The number of schools offering integrative classes is increasing because when the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in Germany in 2009, the federal states committed themselves to guaranteeing an integrative education system at all levels. This means that no child should be excluded from a regular school because of physical or mental handicaps .
There are two forms of integration :
- In the case of targeted integration , all children are taught towards the same educational goal, regardless of possible impairments. For this purpose, however, the disabled pupils must be given the opportunity to compensate for their disadvantages through special aids, for example visual aids or hearing aids.
- Targeted integration takes place in special integration classes, in which the structure of the lessons and the performance requirements are based on the learning abilities of the students. Since the students work on different learning goals, the demands on the teaching staff are higher than in classes with the same goal integration. That is why a teacher and a pedagogical specialist work together here.
Who is the integrated school suitable for?
The inclusive school is a school that is open to all children. Pupils without disabilities and those with learning disabilities, sensory disabilities (e.g. visual impairments), physical disabilities, speech disabilities and sometimes also mental disabilities can learn here with and from each other. An integrative school offers strong opportunities for differentiation and encourages each child individually.
How does an inclusive school work?
In the integrative school, depending on the type of disability of the pupils, the appropriate framework conditions and tools must of course be available, which make integration possible in the first place. This can, for example, affect structural measures such as a ramp for wheelchair users.
Integration classes of target-different integration are somewhat smaller than the classes of a school without an integrative concept. With a class size of 15 to 20 children, around two to four children with disabilities are integrated. In order to meet the special requirements of the mixed class, a special education teacher is present in addition to the subject teacher, who can offer help in the event of special needs. The performance evaluation is carried out using normal numerical certificates. In the case of students with disabilities, however, these are often replaced by verbal testimonials that show the child’s learning development.
The basic requirement for registration is that you as a mother have a positive attitude towards the integrative school, as you can positively influence your child in terms of tolerance and understanding.
What does the curriculum look like in an inclusive school?
The same subjects are taught in an integrative school as in a mainstream school. However, the school draws up its own support concept for the special integration classes. It is important to create an individual learning offer that finds a balance in shared learning situations. The students then not only learn from the teacher, but can also support each other and, quite incidentally, acquire social skills and practice patience and consideration. The successes experienced together also contribute to a positive self-esteem in the children.
Some integrative schools work with medical professionals and offer remedial education or therapy for students with disabilities. This gives them the opportunity to take advantage of ergotherapy, speech therapy or physiotherapy during class time.
Integrative school – what does it bring for your child?
First and foremost, the integrative school should have a positive influence on the social behavior of the children and offer children with disabilities the opportunity to develop a positive self-image. All children should learn to perceive “being different” as something stimulating and not as strange. Pupils without disabilities can learn to connect with children with multiple disabilities on a non-verbal level and thus find ways to reduce the impairment of others. All in all, this type of school offers all children, with or without a handicap, the opportunity to learn from one another and to be encouraged through an individual curriculum.