• Theme: Inclusive Education Leadership
  • Media:

 

Following a successful career in school leadership, Cathy Gunning is an educational consultant with a specialism in early years and the inclusion of children who have experience of being cared for by the state. In this video, she talks with Professor Rachel Lofthouse from Leeds Beckett university in England, about the notion of 'Attuned Teaching', which is a unique framework for building high-quality relationships with children and young people, as a basis for learning. In a blog from Professor Rachel Lofthouse, 'Attuned Teaching' is presented as a counter-approach to 'zero-tolerance' behaviour policies in schools:

https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/blogs/carnegie-education/2022/12/attuned-teaching-a-framework-built-on-relationships-for-learning/

Discussion

The Attuned Teaching Framework has a 'ABCD' of:

A - Adopt an anti-bias stance

Every child is unique. Every child is important and has the right to full time education.  We challenge performative policies that lead to some children being considered inconvenient in some schools. Our policies, language and practices need to nurture all learners rather than discriminate against or punish some. By adopting an anti-bias stance we commit to keeping inclusion and social justice at the heart of education.

B - Build relationships which make a difference

Every child needs to feel welcome and be known in their school community. We build trust with children through our actions. Relationships are not neutral. The classroom is not a battleground so let’s stop talking about enforcing behaviour and discipline. By putting relationships first we value each child in their own right and we create opportunities for learners to be both vulnerable and bold.

C - Create safe enabling environments

Every child can flourish when they feel safe, and every child can learn. We share the responsibility to create affirming, appreciative and enabling school environments. Practices which isolate or shame children or families have no place in education.  By focusing on equity, being empathetic and practising co-regulation we create successful learning environments for all. 

D - Deepen our understanding over time

Every child deserves teachers who keep learning. Understanding of trauma, vulnerability and attachment continues to evolve, and it is not legitimate to assume our practices should be static.  We respect, learn from and contribute to the expertise of fellow teachers and other professionals. By working collaboratively and with curiosity we co-create knowledge for practice to become highly effective inclusive teachers. 

What do you do to ensure 'ABCD' in your own classroom?  What next steps could you take, to develop atuned teaching for inclusion?

Further Reading

Cathy and Rachel have worked together on developing a 'Manifesto for Attuned Teaching' on which they have written the below book chapter:

Gunning, C. and Lofthouse, R. (2022), "A Manifesto for Attuned Teaching", McGovern, W., Gillespie, A. and Woodley, H. (Ed.) Understanding Safeguarding for Children and Their Educational Experiences, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 85-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-709-120221009

Related Materials:

In 24th August 2023, an event took place to mark the end of the Erasmus+ 'Proud to Teach All Project' and celebrate its successes.  This event included dialogues on inclusive education involving teac…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

The Belgian NationalTV (VRT1) came to visit and made a documentary in the partner school in Porto to show how inclusive education in Portugal works. How does the school convey that diversity an…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

‘Inclusief’ is a feature-length documentary, directed by the renowned Belgian filmmaker, Ellen Vermeulen.  It is a movie which captures the experiences of the Flemish school system of children and yo…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

‘Inclusief’ is a feature-length documentary, directed by the renowned Belgian filmmaker, Ellen Vermeulen.  It is a movie which captures the experiences of the Flemish school system of children and yo…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

  Dr. Annet De Vroey, teacher educator and researcher in inclusive education, talks us through the framework of inclusive pedagogy. How does it strengthen our everyday practice and how does it…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

    Dr Tracy Edwards is a lecturer in Special Education, Inclusive Pedagogies and Digital Learning at Leeds Beckett University.  In this blog, she explores the notion of 'extending what is …

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

  On the 15th February 2023, the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences hosted an international symposium 'Inclusive Education: What Else?'.  The program included contributions from researcher…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Maren is a young person with special educational needs who attends an inclusive mainstream school.  In this episode, Maren’s  mother emphasises how effective communication between parents and pro…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

In this podcast two Dutch students talk freely about their ideas around the question: what does a perfect classroom look like? This perfect classroom is discussed from different perspectives. Exa…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Ebanur is finishing up her masters in Disability Studies at the University of Ghent. As part of her last year, she does an inclusive internship, in which she supports pupils with special needs in…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Through reflective dialogues in this episode, a history teacher, social pedagogue and psychologist from Oskara Kalpaka secondary school in Liepaja (Latvia) establish shared values for inclusive e…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

In this podcast, Manuela Sanches Ferreira, a Portuguese Coordinator Professor and the Coordinator of the Centre for Research and Innovation in Education, with extended knowledge and experience in…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

In this podcast two students of Hogeschool Utrecht talk about inequality of opportunity or: how do we offer students optimal opportunities that fit their talents? And what does this require from …

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Inclusive Pedagogy starts with a commitment to ‘extending what is ordinarily available for all learners' (Black-Hawkins and Florian 2012, p. 575). This is unlike other pedagogical responses to le…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

The body of research literature on inclusive classroom practice gives insight into possible ways in which inclusive classroom practitioners might think or behave. In this video, Tracy Edwards fro…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

For Kristine Niedre-Lathere, the head of the municipal education department for the Latvian city of Liepaja, it is important for schools to embrace diversity, and be resourced to work with it. …

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Inclusive pedagogy gives a framework to recognise the ways in which teachers make school and learning accessible for all. It also helps us keep focus in taking the next (small) steps…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

In this blogpost, Dr Tracy Edwards from Leeds Beckett University, uses the metaphor of 'topography' for inclusive teaching This may seem a funny question. You might even be asking yourself wha…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

  Hans Schuman left his post at Hogeschool, Utrecht in June 2021, to begin his retirement.  In this episode, he talks with Peter De Vries, a lecturer at Hogeschool, about his career in researc…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

  The South African concept of ‘umbutu’ emphasises the mutual interdependences between human beings and how it is through our relationships with others, that we construct our sense of identity…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Inclusive practice in education involves working with and listening to others.  Through this we challenge our own assumptions, and see alternative ways of interpreting what might be going on in a…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

In this video, Rachel Lofthouse, Professor of Teacher Education At Leeds Beckett University in England, talks with two inspiring head teachers, who are committed to strengthening inclusion in sch…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Tracy Edwards, Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University in England, explains the term ‘bell-curve thinking’ in relation to education.  In doing this, she emphasises the importance of rejecting ‘bell-…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

Belgian primary school 't Zwaluwnest introduced a new reading method a few years ago, called LIST (Reading is fun). They read every day for about half an hour, pupils chose their own books and wa…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

  The Belgian primary school De Klaproos focuses on helping pupils grow towards independence and responsability. But they wondered, do we really succeed in doing this? And what do our pupils t…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

On 22nd March 2023, an event was held with staff working at the schools that are part of Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust in England. The event was attended by teachers, learning mentors, …

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media:

On 10th May 2023, an event was held at the Department for Education in Brussels, which brought together teachers, school leaders, policy makers, parent advocates, multi-agency professionals and a…

  • Thema Thema:
  • Duurtijd Duurtijd: 0- 0min
  • Media Media: