https://blogs.beaconhouse.net/660/?p=45&preview=true
Inclusive learning environments are places where everyone is valued and included, and where diversity is seen as, enriching.
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Beaconhouse Girls Campus Canal Side is not just a well reputed, huge flagship branch within the system, but an institute that thinks and works beyond just excellent academics. The School Head and Cluster Convener, Ms. Saima Lone believes in progress towards a more equitable society where all can exercise their human rights. Every weighted decision by the higher ups brings with it, pros and cons, but thinking, realizing and identifying solutions to grave and inexplicable problems, is what leads to real success.
Inclusion is not Tolerance, It is unquestioned Acceptance
Students here, with varied needs have enjoyed the perks of mainstream education acquiring knowledge with willingly catered needs with humility by administration, faculty as well as support staff. Starting from students with hearing impairment to pupils being partially blind, to being physically handicapped, to students needing speech therapy or supported through a wheel chair have been the happiest students at Canal Side, as their needs were dealt with as the norm and not a burden. They were eyed upon as any other human with qualities, dreams, aspirations just like you and me.
Powerful vested interests can subtly draw parents into a web, so confusing them about what is in their or their children’s best interests. Progress towards inclusive education for children and those with special educational needs is a case in point. The branch specifically is removing the bias in our English Education system’ and supports more parental choice while introducing real term cuts across all schools and seeking to break up a thirty year consensus of moving towards more inclusive approaches. On the contrary, under the smokescreen of ‘choice’ parents and special schools are being urged/bribed to opt-out of Local Authority support and planning to set up Special Academies and special Free Schools.
Girls Campus Canal Side with its esteemed Leadership, is choosing instead to thrust the education of differently abled children into the front line in their ideological battle to break up state education and prepare the way for much greater private sector involvement.
The panacea of ‘parental choice’, ‘new special school academies’, ‘special free schools’, removal of bureaucracy and the streamlining of the process of assessing needs and providing support, can sound seductive to parents who have been fighting to get their differently abled children a decent education.
The branch believes as well as realizes through discussion and interactive sessions with the parent body as well as through different acquaintances that children have suffered disproportionately from the learning crisis, further worsened by the pandemic.
Girls Campus Canal Side’s stand on Inclusive education, requires a methodological shift from the traditional “one-size-fits-all” model towards differentiated instruction, or more individualized teaching and learning practices, which they have smoothly transitioned into. In differentiated instruction, teachers support children as individual learners, and design teaching and learning to fit children’s diverse needs.
The crux is that every child is different and deserves equal opportunity and right to be happy and to attain quality education. This red bricked campus has been exemplary in proving to be a model school which ensures inclusive quality education for children with disabilities, so that they learn in the mainstream school system, and fully engage as equal members and active participants in communities and society. It is no surprise , infact a moment of pride for them as they have been awarded “The Happiest School Award”, where children smile, compete and cherish the feeling of completeness.
From Early years to Senior school, inclusive education at the school premises, encourages all children to learn successfully regardless of disability, whether psychological or physical difficulty, or any other feature. It supports every learner’s educational opportunity, in which the teaching and learning processes are stimulated according to the needs of learners. These Children learn successfully in mainstream education along with their age-based peers. Moreover, the sensitivity factor towards the children is such that suitable climate and weather conditions are taken care of specifically for a student in junior classes who does not have skin on the body. His body reacts to changes in the climate and environment in the classroom. The faculty and support staff take care of him without implying it to be added stress or burden which signifies and confirms that people who work here are unsung heroes.
This difficult, yet necessary step was taken several times at different levels by branch leadership as it is essential to understand that inclusion of any kind comes with acceptance, and hence, establishing an inclusive education system requires commitment towards cultivating relationships across students, parents, teachers, and the broader community based on increased awareness about mental illness as well. Examples exist worldwide where those with special needs have been integrated into mainstream society with proper support and inclusive policymaking and Canal Side Campus Girls, initiates the same. The administration urges the parent body to prioritize early identification of those with special needs, such as learning difficulties, emotional or behavioral problems, and physical disabilities, so that specialized support at the school level could be timely offered in the best possible manner.
We’re proud that we’ve been chosen,
To help you learn and grow,
The job that you have brought us,
Is more than you can know.
A precious gift from Heaven,
A treasure from above,
A child who’s taught us many things,
But most of all- Real Love