This new guide provides “a structured and evidence-led approach to supporting pupils with additional needs and strengthen teaching for every pupil.”
With state schools in England required to publish their new inclusion strategies by the end of this school year, inclusion is the current focus for school leaders.
To support this, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has launched The EEF Guide to Inclusive Teaching to help teachers support pupils with additional needs through high-quality everyday classroom practice.
A universal approach
The EEF says that the evidence points toward strengthening a school’s universal classroom offer first, before creating distinct tasks for different pupils. The key is to get the basics right for everyone, it says, and, that way, schools naturally meet the needs of the most vulnerable learners.
The EEF guide emphasises that high-quality, evidence-informed universal teaching is the foundation of an inclusive classroom, using the consistent strategies we already know work, such as:
- Explicit instruction – breaking down complex ideas into small, digestible steps.
- Cognitive scaffolding – providing temporary frameworks that gradually build independent learning.
- Effective feedback – offering clear, actionable guidance to move learning forward.
- Predictable environments – to establish calm, structured routines that reduce anxiety and cognitive load.
Schools that embed these strategies find that the need for separate, targeted interventions is reduced, says the EEF.
Practical advice
To help schools incorporate this into daily routines, the EEF has released some practical implementation resources alongside the guide. These include scenario-based professional development materials designed to help leaders facilitate meaningful discussions in staff rooms.
Ultimately, creating an inclusive school is about protecting the time and space teachers need to deliver clear, structured and highly supportive lessons to every child in the room – and this guide seeks to support that.
References
- Strong classroom practice with carefully chosen adaptations key to inclusive teaching. Available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/classroom-practice-key-to-inclusive-teaching (Accessed 14 July 2026)
- The EEF Guide to Inclusive Teaching. Available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/inclusive-teaching (Accessed 14 July 2026)
