Inclusion, Wellbeing and School Safety

Inclusive Education and Special Needs

Every student deserves a teacher who knows how to reach them.

Inclusion and DiversityErasmus+ KA1 Eligible13 Destinations

About This Course

Inclusive education is not a specialist subject. It is a core professional competence that every teacher in every classroom needs. In 2026, European classrooms are more diverse than ever, with students with a wide range of learning differences, disabilities, language backgrounds and social-emotional needs learning alongside their peers. The question is not whether inclusion is the right approach. European law and EU policy are clear that it is. The question is how to make it work in practice.

This course gives education professionals the knowledge, the frameworks and the practical tools to make their classrooms genuinely inclusive. Participants explore the research on what inclusion actually means and what it requires from teachers, develop practical strategies for supporting students with a range of additional needs, and design learning experiences that work for everyone.

The course is aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021 to 2030, the Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity priority and the European Education Area commitment to equity and inclusion.

Who Should Attend

  • Classroom teachers who want to be more effective with students with additional needs
  • Special educational needs coordinators and support teachers
  • School leaders developing inclusive school policies and practices
  • Teaching assistants and learning support professionals
  • Teachers new to inclusive education or seeking to update their knowledge

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

  • Explain the principles and legal framework of inclusive education and connect them to EU policy and human rights commitments.

    Inclusion is a legal and ethical commitment, not an optional approach. You will understand the international and European legal framework for inclusive education, be able to explain it clearly to colleagues and parents, and connect your classroom practice to the broader EU commitment to equity.

  • Identify the most common types of additional learning needs encountered in mainstream European classrooms and apply appropriate strategies for each.

    Dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum, social-emotional and behavioural difficulties, speech and language needs, and sensory impairments are among the most commonly encountered additional needs in European mainstream classrooms. You will have specific, evidence-based strategies for each.

  • Design lessons using Universal Design for Learning principles to reduce barriers for all students.

    Universal Design for Learning is the most comprehensive and evidence-based framework for designing accessible, flexible learning experiences. Its core principle is simple: if you design for the students who find your lesson hardest, you improve it for everyone. You will have a working knowledge of the UDL framework and be able to apply it to your own lesson planning.

  • Collaborate effectively with special educational needs coordinators, support staff and parents to provide coherent support.

    Inclusive education is a team effort. The most effective support for students with additional needs happens when classroom teachers, SENCO, teaching assistants and parents all understand each other's roles and work together consistently. You will have strategies for building this collaboration in practice.

  • Reflect on your own assumptions and biases about disability and additional needs and their impact on your teaching practice.

    The most powerful changes in inclusive education happen not when teachers learn new strategies but when they examine their assumptions. What do you really believe about the potential of students with additional needs? What signals do you send, consciously and unconsciously, about your expectations?

A 7-Day Professional Development Experience

The Sude Nexus programme combines five days of intensive professional training with a structured arrival day and a cultural excursion day. The outline below gives a general sense of the week. We are always open to tailoring the programme to your needs.

Day 1
Sunday - Arrival and Welcome

Participants arrive at their chosen destination and are welcomed by the Sude Nexus local team. Check-in to accommodation, welcome pack distribution and an informal welcome dinner. A brief orientation walk introduces the city.

Day 2
Monday - The Principles of Inclusive Education
MorningWhat inclusion actually means: from special schools to full inclusion. The EU and international legal framework. Participants share their own inclusion challenges and goals.
AfternoonThe most common additional needs in mainstream classrooms: an evidence-based overview. Understanding and responding to dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum and social-emotional difficulties.
Day 3
Tuesday - Universal Design for Learning
MorningIntroduction to Universal Design for Learning: Multiple Means of Representation, Expression and Engagement. How to design flexibly from the start rather than adapting after the fact.
AfternoonApplying UDL to your own classroom. Participants review and redesign a lesson using UDL principles. Peer feedback and reflection.
Day 4
Wednesday - Collaboration and Communication
MorningWorking with teaching assistants, SENCOs and support staff. How to build a genuinely collaborative team around students with additional needs.
AfternoonWorking with parents and families. How to have honest, productive conversations about a student's difficulties and what the school is doing to support them.
Day 5
Thursday - Designing Your Inclusive Practice
MorningParticipants design a complete inclusive learning unit applying UDL principles to their own subject and context. Peer review.
AfternoonAction planning, connecting to EU frameworks and farewell dinner.
Day 6
Friday - Action Planning and Sharing
MorningParticipants develop their personal and institutional action plan. Structured peer review and feedback.
AfternoonPresentations, certificates and farewell. Participant presentations, certificate ceremony, evaluation and farewell dinner.
Day 7
Saturday - Cultural Excursion and Departure

Guided cultural excursion to a key landmark of the destination. Participants travelling home are free to depart after breakfast.

This outline is a starting point, not a fixed schedule. Contact us to discuss how we can tailor this programme for your institution.

EU Policy Alignment

Erasmus+ 2026 Horizontal Priorities

EU Competence Frameworks

EU Policy Initiatives

EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021 to 2030UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesEuropean Education Area 2021 to 2030 - EquityCouncil Recommendation on Pathways to School Success 2023
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Available Locations and Dates

This course is available across all 13 Sude Nexus destinations. Check the dates page for current availability.

Check Dates and Availability

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