Inclusion Quality Mark Ltd (IQM) was established in the U.K in October 2004 with the objective of supporting both state and independent schools to become truly inclusive. The IQM team aspires to be at the forefront of developments to ensure the inclusive education of young people. We believe that for future generations to be able to live in harmony, we all have a responsibility to ensure that we provide an inclusive start for all. This not only begins in the home but in all of our educational establishments. Every child is an individual, unique in every way, with the potential to shape the world in which they live. As educators we have to ensure that our young people develop an inclusive approach to others, however diverse they may seem.
The IQM team is now the largest team of assessors and advisors in the UK examining how we meet the ever changing needs of a diverse community in delivering an inclusive education. All of our team come from senior management positions within schools and local authorities. The team is made up of a dedicated group of experienced educationalists who are committed to helping schools recognise their strengths and identify areas which require improvement suggesting various strategies to help the schools to evolve their inclusive practices. IQM offers ongoing inclusion consultancy services to schools at all stages of education in both the state and independent sectors.
With projects operating both nationally and internationally we recognise the importance of taking account of cultural factors when discussing inclusion and how this can be applied to a local context. When approaching a school we begin by asking staff to consider the following issues:-
- What? – What is inclusion? Do we all have the same understanding of inclusion and are our expectations being met within the current education system?
- When? – When is inclusion available, appropriate, and necessary?
- Where? – Where should inclusion happen? What impact does the environment have on inclusion?
- Who? – Who needs inclusion? Do we all want to be included?
- How? – How do you develop an inclusive classroom/school/community?
Download Inclusion – An Introduction
