Beyond labels - Getting inclusion right for children known or previously known to social care
The Leadership LensShow Notes
Beyond Labels: Getting Inclusion Right for Children Known or Previously Known to Social Care
In this week’s episode, we explore one of the most important—and often misunderstood—areas of the renewed inspection framework: inclusion. This isn’t a standalone priority. It runs through everything—quality of education, behaviour, leadership—and is ultimately about how well schools work for those pupils facing the greatest barriers to their learning and wellbeing.
We take a deep, practical look at what we really mean by children known to, or previously known to, social care, unpicking the complexity behind terms like children in need, child protection, looked after children and care leavers. Most importantly, we focus on what this means for schools in practice: how we identify need, work in partnership, use funding effectively, and ensure that our actions genuinely improve pupils’ lived experiences and outcomes.
This episode moves beyond labels and categories, challenging leaders to think carefully about inclusion as a coherent, intentional strategy—one that is visible not just in policy, but in the day-to-day reality of school life.
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Personal development
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Safeguarding
Curriculum design
Alternative provision
Strong foundations in the early years
The writing framework …and much more
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