Inclusion, wellbeing and equalities framework: Essential for all

This professional learning is suitable for anyone working with children and young people in an educational context.

The PowerPoint slides can be used to facilitate professional learning in a group or whole-setting, or as a self-directed learning activity as an individual.

Inclusion overview (PowerPoint)

GIRFEC (PowerPoint)

Scottish Education context (PowerPoint)

General Guidance

There is a requirement to cover all the slides. Please do not change the provided slides.

Facilitators are welcome to add slides or activities relevant to your own setting, to support discussion and exploration of the topic. Facilitators will know their participants’ needs best.

Anyone who works in an educational setting can be a facilitator and use these slides.

It is important to establish a safe space which encourages respect and honesty to ensure that everyone is able to participate.

Themes

All of the professional learning in the Framework fits into one of four themes.

rights and equalities
relationships
inclusion
wellbeing and care

The four themes are interconnected and interdependent.
This activity interconnects with all four themes.

How to use this resource

These slides can be used to facilitate professional learning in a group or whole-setting, or as a self-directed learning activity as an individual.

Facilitation notes are included at the bottom of each slide.

Please do not remove or change any of the slides included.

Facilitators are welcome to add slides or activities relevant to your own setting, to support discussion and exploration of the topic.

Facilitators will know their participants’ needs best.

Anyone who works in an educational setting can be a facilitator and use these slides.

For reflection or discussion activities, it is important to establish a safe space which encourages respect and honesty to ensure that everyone is able to participate.

National Model for Professional Learning

This professional learning forms part of the national model for professional learning and is designed to help you gain more knowledge and have a deeper understanding of inclusion, wellbeing and equalities

On completion of this professional learning, you will be asked to consider what your next steps will be.

Please take some time to consider the reflection questions at the end.

Inclusion overview

Getting it right for every child

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time - so that every child and young person in Scotland can reach their full potential.

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) forms a foundation of Scotland’s strong track record of respecting, protecting, and fulfilling children’s rights in law, policy, and practice. A central part of Scotland’s vision is to make this country the best place to grow up.

Children have the same rights as all other human beings as well as additional rights that recognise childhood as a special time that requires additional protection. A child’s fundamental human dignity as an individual, a family and a community member must be upheld in order for them to have the quality of life they need for their wellbeing and development.

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is fundamentally about how well you know the children and young people and their families in your care.

Relationships

The first stage of getting it right for every child is about relationships.

It’s all about relationships!

Recognising, recording and responding to individual needs helps us to safeguard and protect the children and young people in our care.

Through a common understanding of wellbeing, we recognise that children and young people need to grow up safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included, so that they can become confident individuals, effective contributors, successful learners and responsible citizens.

Assessing wellbeing needs (GIRFEC)

Assessing wellbeing needs is a statutory responsibility. (Assessment of Wellbeing 2022 – Part 18 (section 96) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014).

An assessment of wellbeing must seek to identify all the factors in the child or young person’s life which may be affecting their physical, mental or emotional wellbeing. This will help establish how best to support the child or young person when they experience difficulties.

It will include, but is not limited to, recognising individual, family and community strengths as well as difficulties they face such as poverty, health, disability, inequalities or communication needs, and how these needs might be met to improve wellbeing

The Scottish Education Context

Scottish education is based on the belief that education is a human right and that all children and young people should be supported to reach their fullest potential.

Scotland’s education system is designed to be an inclusive one for all children and young people in Scottish schools, with or without additional support needs.

Children’s rights and entitlements are fundamental to Scotland’s approach to inclusive education. It is supported by the legislative framework and key policy drivers