16. Ordinary classrooms. Extraordinary inclusion: Nic Ponsford

07/11/2025 30 min
16. Ordinary classrooms. Extraordinary inclusion: Nic Ponsford

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Episode Synopsis

Inclusion has always been at the heart of great teaching - but with Ofsted’s updated Education Inspection Framework placing it even more prominently, this feels like the right moment to pause and reflect in depth. In this podcast, Nic Ponsford reminds us that inclusion isn’t an optional add-on or compliance exercise (see here for Part 2 of this collection). It’s a daily moral and professional commitment to see every child, remove unnecessary barriers, and ensure learning is both ambitious and accessible for all.The following questions are designed to help you and your colleagues think deeply about what inclusion really looks like in your classrooms, curriculum, and leadership practices.Reflection questions:For teachersHow do I create classroom environments where every pupil feels safe, seen, and valued - not just supported, but genuinely belonging?In what ways do I adapt my teaching to pupils’ emotional as well as cognitive readiness to learn?How do my assumptions about pupils’ behaviour, background, or family circumstances shape my interactions and expectations?What practical strategies help me flex lessons around pupils’ needs rather than expecting pupils to fit a single model of learning?How might I use technology or collaborative tools to better capture and respond to pupils’ lived experiences and voices?Download the questions for subject leaders, senior leaders and all staff here.You can find more recordings on Myatt & Co