Equity in Education - The Equity Group
The Equity Group is a member led, not for profit organisation. Membership stands at more than 400, made up of self advocates with a disability, parents of children with a disability, young people over the age of 14, educational and health professionals who believe in the benefits of inclusive education, and other interested individuals.
'With the presumption of mainstreaming, more families are choosing education in their local school, and often need advice and support to make this work. Although we have been active for just four years, the demand for our services has been increasing exponentially.'
The Equity Group
The Group is working to develop sustainable inclusive education structures for all children in Scotland with additional support needs, irrespective of their disability, race, creed or gender. In achieving this aim, children with additional support needs will be able to reach their full potential through having access to an appropriate education. The Equity Group seeks to support children and families to achieve the education and support they need, and to work with professionals to develop and promulgate sound inclusive educational practice.
Research shows that inclusive teaching practice increases attainment levels for all children in the class, not just the child with the label of additional support needs. Whilst teachers, schools and local authorities want to adopt inclusive practices, many people are apprehensive about the pace and scale of change.
'To make inclusion work, all the stakeholders – children, teachers, parents and other professionals - have to work together and learn together. Through building skills locally and having trained partners locally, we can support and encourage the adoption of inclusive practices.'
The Equity Group
Objectives of the Equity Group
- To inform the thinking of policymakers, planners and legislators in Scotland so that inclusive education remains an integral part of mainstream policy and legislation affecting children and young people: and to inform the thinking of children, young people, parents, teachers and other professionals so that good inclusive education increasingly becomes 'just the way we do things in Scotland'.
- To contribute to a vibrant community of practice in inclusive education where children, teachers, managers, parents and others work together to develop effective strategies for inclusion and to keep learning from their own and others' experience.
- To ensure that children, young people and families who have chosen inclusion in a mainstream school as their best educational option have the information, advice and moral support they need to achieve and maintain this choice.
The Work of the Group
In 2004 the Equity Group completed a pilot programme working in partnership with six local authorities and parents within these areas in the development and implementation of an Inclusive Learning Network (ILN). Recruitment is currently underway for the 2005-7 ILN programme, building on this initial pilot. The ILN comprises up to eight groups from different parts of the country, bringing together education, health, social work, voluntary sector representatives and parents to undertake a programme of learning and joint working around inclusive education and, specifically, the requirements of the ASL Act.
This type of partnership working between parents and teachers on inclusive education has never been done before and gave a unique insight into inclusive practices taking place in Scotland today.As part of the Inclusive Learning Network pilot, the local partners carried out research locally on issues facing children and young people relating to inclusive education. These situational studies have been collated and dissemintated nationally as well as locally.
In addition, The Equity Group undertakes programmes of work with individual schools and local authorities, as well as the NHS and with other voluntary groups. Members have been trained to deliver training to professionals and members of the public. The Group regularly provides in service training for teachers, presentations at conferences, seminars and other events.
The Equity Group has held four successful international conferences, which involved some of the world's top inclusive education practitioners working alongside parents, professionals and children. The conferences together with a newsletter and e-group for members ensure that members and stakeholders are kept up to date with changes in inclusive education in Scotland and the rest of the world. The conferences also raise the profile of inclusive education and highlight the progress being made in Scotland.
There is a growing need from local and national policy makers for an informed contribution towards developing guidance and policy. One of Equity's key tasks is to provide development opportunities and practical support for our members to take part in this process.
Children with additional support needs and their families often face massive barriers to inclusion in mainstream schools. Members of the Equity Group already work together with families and schools to try to resolve issues and ensure that the best interests of the child are being met and that the appropriate support packages are in place to allow the child to be educated.
Contact details:
Equity in Education
76 High Street
Peebles
EH45 8SW
Telephone: 01721 729326
E-mail: erica@equityineducation.org