module specification

Module description:
You will be introduced to academic debates around social justice and inclusion as philosophical notions and as practical realms of education. You will be encouraged to engage academically, critically and reflectively with the different interpretations of inclusion and equalities that emerge from inclusion studies, inclusion policies and political discourses around inclusion. You will
develop a historical and analytical understanding of aspects of past and current policy in relation to inclusion and inclusive education, including disability and special educational needs. It will draw upon formal areas of inclusive studies and social justice, and educational academic research. 

The module aims:
1. To enable students to apply theory to interpret debates around inclusion, inclusive education and inclusive practices in society;
2. To highlight debates around inclusion and exclusion in educational discourse, inclusive policy and theory;
3. To explore the many interpretations and definitions around inclusion and equalities and analyse how they are embedded in education
4. To examine the relationship between educational and social structures with reference to issues of inclusion, social exclusion and social justice;
5. To explore academic educational research around inclusion and inclusion policy to critically engage with current debates around inclusions and exclusions in education

The first part of the module explores the notion of social justice and inclusion from various philosophical and sociological perspectives. These notions are then embedded in the conceptualisations of equalities to understand which equalities are more prevalent in our current system. Students are supported to develop their own conceptualisations of difference, disability and additional needs.

The second part of the syllabus develops an understanding of the more important historical and policy developments in inclusive education, including the latest SEND policy. The conceptualisations developed in the first phase are used to problematise what are the implicit interpretations of inclusion found in current and past policies and practices within education.

The third block of the syllabus engages students in reading educational academic research into more practical aspects of inclusion in education; examining important political developments which define how inclusion occurs in schools. Analysing how schooling is one of the main vehicles for inclusion in our society. In doing this, students are able to delve deeper into the links between theory and practice as related to inclusion.

The module develops through exploring concepts of inclusion, social justice, equalities and social exclusion; to examine the links between education, and social advantage and social problems. Different interpretations of inclusion and equalities in education are used to encourage students to explain and analyse the links between inclusion and aspects of schooling. The common educational difficulties, such as unequal educational outcomes, issues of SEN and disabilities are considered as part of this debate, before turning to the more uncommon difficulties for which the issues of social inclusion are more complex. The first two blocks of teaching lead to the first assignment. The final block, leading to the final assessment, allows students to build on previous learning in the module. The module will use lectures, workshops, videos and case study debates.

At the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. Define and historicise the notions of social justice, inclusion, different equalities in the world of education and schooling;
2. Interpret current and past debates around inclusion as a notion and inclusive practices in education;
3. Analyse and articulate the links between social and educational policy, social problems, and how education can be used as a vehicle for inclusion 
4. Explain and critique evidence from research data, theoretical approaches to inclusion  and inequalities and the role they play in education

Link for the reading list