Developing Inclusive Curricula: Equality and Diversity in Education: Open University Course Readers: E829

Competition between educational institutions in a commercial market-place raises questions about the selection and classification of students. What grounds are accepted for their inclusion and exclusion? How can appropriate support be guaranteed for children, young people and adults who experience difficulties in learning, who are disabled, or who experience social or other kinds of difficulty? This series of two books is designed to help students frame their own lines of critical enquiry into these policies and practices, and aims to develop an awareness of those features of an education system which promote equality of value and opportunity for each student, whatever his or her ability or attainments.

Each reader focuses on a number of themes and principles:

• discussions of working towards equality in education;
• illustrations of the range of perspectives and interests which exist on educational issues, including parents' and consumers' views;
• encouragement to develop a personal voice and a critical viewpoint, which includes reflecting on educational language and terminology;
• reflections on the process of making enquiries;
• comparative material from around the UK, Europe, and beyond;
• discussions of policy and practice in nursery, primary, secondary, tertiary and segregated specialised provision;
• interdisciplinary and interagency material.

Each reader contains material to support students through small-scale research projects - offering help on working out research questions, how to decide what methods of enquiry are appropriate, and how to evaluate findings. Volume 1 focuses on experiences of learning and teaching and developments which concern individual schools. Volume 2 looks at national and international contexts for education in the UK in the 1990s and discusses practical, ethical and political issues which are relevant to the process of doing research.