This is an accessible introduction to inclusion that offers practical suggestions for achieving social and cultural diversity in schools. This book tells the stories of individuals coping with diversity in our schools today, to reveal feelings and attitudes that must be heard if we are to develop an inclusive society. "Meeting the Needs of Students with Diverse Backgrounds" provides practical suggestions to real situations, from issues of culture and community and English as a second language, to ADHD, bereavement and selective mutism. The contributors consider the views of staff and pupils in primary, secondary and special schools as well as the importance of teaching assistants and their possible future role in the inclusion agenda. This important and topical book will be essential reading for teachers, teaching assistants, students of education and policy makers in the fields of health, social care and education. "Meeting the Needs" is a wide-ranging and highly practical series which will help classroom practitioners to ensure that all students have a successful learning experience whatever their particular needs. Written for teachers, SENCOs, learning support assistants, teaching assistants, trainee teachers and senior managers, books in the series cover subjects as diverse as dyslexia; gifted and talented; disaffected students; and students with backgrounds such as physical disability, ADHD, cultural issues, ESL, and bereavement. Written by experts in their field, all the titles in the "Meeting the Needs" series offer support for identification and provision, and are illustrated throughout with case studies and practical examples.

Author Biography

Rosemary Sage is Professor of Communication in Education and Director of the Department of Inclusion at Liverpool Hope University. Rosemary is a qualified speech and language therapist and psychologist.