Inclusive assessment

1. Student assessment

It's a big challenge for teachers to assess the progress of pupils with SEN. These pupils can find usual methods of examination too difficult and demotivating for themselves. E.g., they might have problems writing their answers in the required time, and some might find it difficult to understand even the test requirements. Pupils with SEN can also lose confidence if they continually do worse than their peers in tests and other assessments.

The following assessment strategies my be helpful in those cases:

• Allow pupils to work in groups (e.g. on projects where they have different roles which utilize their strengths).
• Encourage them to notice what they know or are abel to do today, compared to what they knew and were able to do earlier in the year.
• Work continuously with pupils on acknowledging their feelings and difficulties but also their strengths.
• Praise and reward their other skills (not only results, but also their responsibility, creativity, etc.).
• Remind them at all times that only a certain type of work is assessed, not the whole person.

2. Inclusive school evaluation

Currently, one of the most frequent tool for the evaluation of school inclusiveness is the Index for Inclusion (Booth & Ainscow, 2007). This manual is accepted in the wider European area, and it's available for free in many languages (translations) - although the national versions are not adapted to the situation in each particular country (it reflects the British environment above all). There is no user guide for available, as this tool should serve for school indicative self assessment.

Based on the theoretical definition of the concept of inclusive education, the Index for Inclusion offers some specific tools for school inclusivness self assessment, primarily using self-evaluation questionnaires mapping three basic areas:

• building an inclusive culture,
• producing inclusive policies,
• evovling inclusive practices.

Each are is assessed through several indicators that can help schools to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

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