Inclusion Exchange

Introduction

The Inclusion Exchange project is a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen inclusive education across mainstream schools in the North West. The project brings together a cross-regional group of special school leaders, mainstream practitioners, and SEND experts to define what effective mainstream inclusion looks like—drawing on lived experience, sector expertise, and the latest evidence.

Through the Sector-Led Inclusion Expert Group (SIEG), made up of senior leaders in outstanding specialist provision, we will co-produce practical tools, including an enhanced inclusion audit framework and a comprehensive toolkit of strategies. These resources will draw upon the original Whole School SEND Review Guide and integrate existing frameworks including EEF SEND in Mainstream Guide and Deployment of Teaching Assistants Guide, Nasen Whole School SEND Reflection Framework and 2025 Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit, with particular focus on the 'Inclusion' strand, as well as practitioner-led insights, regionally contextualised examples, and curriculum-linked strategies tailored to diverse SEND needs.

Our goal is to:

• Build capacity in mainstream settings to deliver high-quality inclusive education.
• Improve outcomes for pupils with SEND.
• Foster sustainable partnerships between special and mainstream schools.

Outputs will be piloted with schools, parent/carer groups, and multi-agency specialists, refined through feedback, and shared widely via webinars, cluster groups, and leadership networks to ensure accessibility and long-term impact. The pilot phase will take place from the end of February through to the end of March 2026.

The project will be complete by 31st March 2026.
 

Inclusion Exchange Framework

As explained above and as part of the project so far, an enhanced inclusion audit framework has been developed using existing frameworks and the new Ofsted framework - Inclusion Exchange Framework  

Call For Evidence

You are invited to contribute examples of inclusive practice in schools, Trusts, and Local Authorities across the North West. For more guidance on the types of examples needed, please refer to the Inclusion Exchange Framework above.

Your input will help shape practical tools and resources to support inclusive education and help us celebrate and share what works best for pupils with SEND. Your school and its contribution will be acknowledged and recognised in the final output of this high profile DfE project.

For more information, please refer to the letter below from Vicky Beer CBE (DfE Regional Director for the North West). 

Insert link to letter

To submit your examples, please complete this short form or use the QR code below: 

Inclusion Exchange - DfE RISE Universal Grant – Fill out form

In order to move the project forward in a timely manner, the preferred date for submissions is Friday 30th January 2026.