Paul A. Bartolo

Understanding and responding to diversity in the primary classroom: an international study

The increased diversification of classrooms in recent years has placed additional demands upon teachers who strive to facilitate the learning and participation of all pupils. The aim of the current study was to explore how primary teachers across Europe understand and respond to diversity in their classrooms. A total of 35 teachers from 7 countries (Czech Republic, England, Germany, Holland, Lithuania, Malta, Sweden) participated in semi‐structured interviews. Analysis of the data yielded several key themes: (i) the need for caring and inclusive attitudes and school ethos, (ii) facilitating inclusive values and solidarity in pupils, (iii) building collaborative networks, (iv) organising ‘responsive’ teaching, and (v) facing challenges in responding to diversity. The implications of these findings for the development of inclusive practices are discussed.

Why school psychology for diversity

This article discusses the dilemma faced by psychologists in responding to diversity. It is based on a qualitative review of relevant literature over the past decade. It first describes psychologists as frontrunners in recognizing the uniqueness and autonomy of each of their diverse clients but within the biomedical model that locates problems within clients. This raises a dilemma vis-à-vis diversity issues which are associated with discrimination suffered by minority groups who are best supported by changes in social structures and processes. An account is then given of an increasing adoption of a biopsychosocial model, with further influence of the social model of disability and mental health. Evidence of the trend is explored in a new commitment to the human rights agenda, changes in ethical codes, and in psychologists’ engagement with intervention at macro systems levels as in the promotion of inclusive education. The review concludes with the implications of these trends for greater changes in training institutions to reflect openness to diversity, and in training programmes to promote an understanding of, and skills in, using social approaches to addressing the needs of clients who are at risk of being misunderstood, devalued, and discriminated against.

Naturalistic decision-making task processes in multiprofessional assessment of disability

Abstract Evaluation of preschool children with complex disabilities is regarded as a group decision-making process. This process was studied in two tertiary-level multiprofessional groups in London, UK: one based in a neurodisability center and one organized by a school psychological service. The assessment discussions about two preschool children at each site were audio recorded. Each assessment was carried out over half a day by all the professionals simultaneously with the family. Postassessment interviews were held with each professional and family. Verbal protocol analysis captured the structure of each assessment through six TASK decision-making processes applied at three levels of reasoning and decision making. Sequential application of processes was found to be influenced by the occurrence of a series of three cycles of decision making within each assessment and the decomposition of the assessment task into distinct subproblems.

School psychology for diversity : editorial

The concept of student diversity has brought together issues related to at least two major categories of students whose needs are not usually adequately addressed in general educational provisions: students with disabilities and other forms of special educational needs, and students from minority cultures or disadvantaged backgrounds (UNESCO, 2009). School psychologists have long been at the forefront in helping education systems, educators and parents in developing an understanding and adequate provisions for these students. However, the main role ascribed to psychologists was generally that of individual assessment and intervention. Increasing understanding of the cultural context of development, increasing student diversity in schools, and a deeper appreciation of the principles of social justice, have put inclusive education at the forefront of educational reform, and this in turn has called for a change in the role of psychologists as promoters of whole-school healthy contexts for learning and development. These issues were addressed in the keynote papers presented at the 31st International School Psychology Association Conference in Malta in 2009 on ‘School psychology for diversity’, some of which are brought together in this special issue of SPI. Paul Bartolo sets out the main dilemma for all psychologists and school psychologists in particular: while psychologists have long been regarded as the experts about the challenges for adaptation faced by individuals who differ from the norm, inclusive education points towards the challenge of the context, community, education system, school and classroom to be transformed to welcome and support the

Social inclusion and social justice: A resilience curriculum for early years and elementary schools in Europe

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a resilience curriculum in early years and primary schools to enhance social inclusion, equity and social justice amongst European communities, particularly amongst disadvantaged and vulnerable ones, through quality education. It defines educational resilience in terms of academic, social and emotional growth in the face of life challenges; discusses the conceptual framework and key principles underpinning the curriculum; and presents the six major content areas of the curriculum. Finally, it presents the preliminary findings of a pilot project on the implementation of the curriculum in more than 200 classrooms in about 80 early and primary schools in six European countries. Design/methodology/approach – The curriculum was first drafted collaboratively amongst the six partners on the basis of the existing literature in the promotion of resilience in early years and primary schools, with a particular focus to European realities. Once it w...

The Power of Assessment in Teacher Education

is to increase student teachers’ involvement in assessmentby handing over the responsibilities of assessor from teacher educator to studentteacher. After all, one of the main responsibilities of teachers is to assess their pupilsin schools. For teacher educators, this means that they need to equip student teach-ers with assessor skills, like developing appropriate assessment criteria and givingadequate feedback on student performance.Because assessment is a delicate issue and many important educational decisionsare based on assessment outcomes, it is important to assure the quality of assess-ment. A

The Role of Psychologists in Inclusive Settings

Abstract School Psychologists (SPs) have usually been associated with supporting educators in meeting the needs of students with socio-emotional and learning difficulties and disabilities. This chapter suggests that they can support teacher assistants and other educators within inclusive settings in many other ways too. It highlights that SPs are generally trained in holistic student development and group dynamics, in learning, teaching and assessment processes, and in bringing about individual and social change. The whole chapter is based on the idea that inclusion is a concern for all students and therefore also for all school staff. Teacher assistants in inclusive schools are regarded as part of a commitment of the whole school to adapt its curriculum, the organisation of learning and teaching, and the grouping of students so that each one can be actively engaged in the regular learning and social activities of the school. Thus SPs can be called to support not only the engagement of an individual student but also to help make the class and school welcoming learning communities for all.

Parents’/Carers’ Participation in Mental Health Promotion in Schools

There has long been an understanding of the impact of the family situation on children’s school achievement across cultures and contexts and consequently also of the importance of involving parents in their children’s education. Ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1989) further highlighted the importance of the child’s interactions within the different microsystems as well as the impact of the interactions between the different microsystems such as home and school at mesosystem level.

Ensuring a Strong Start for All Children: Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care

This chapter highlights the importance of providing all children, and particularly those at risk, vulnerable children and children with disabilities, with opportunities for a quality inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). It first sets out the evidence that quality inclusive ECEC provision is essential for all children to develop their potential and lifelong learning competencies that will ensure their successful participation in school and adult life. It then describes the main international and European policies for inclusive ECEC. A more detailed account is given of the five key principles for action towards improving the quality of ECEC provision developed by the thematic working group of the European Commission (2014) ‘Quality Framework for Early Education and Care’ that are also very similar to those proposed by the OECD (2015) ‘Starting Strong IV’. The concluding section underlines the need to address more strongly the provision of enabling opportunities for accessibility to ECEC of children at risk of exclusion. More importantly, it highlights the need to research and improve not only these children’s presence in ECEC but also their level and quality of active participation and engagement in the social and learning activities of early childhood inclusive provision. The chapter reflects the research and policy development work being undertaken by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education in its (2015–2017) project on Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE) led by the present authors.