This reflective tool can help a team to collectively reflect on the ways they are already working together, and any changes they can make to strengthen their approach in the with the Inclusive Education Policy. While staff members can complete this individually, we recommend this tool is completed with those you work with – your teaching team, SLSOs, or other relevant colleagues. We recommend your team also review the content and reflection questions on collaboration in ‘What works best in practice’ (page 33) as part of this exercise, and identify further actions and goals based on these.

See: What works best in practice

See: Inclusive Education for students with disability

Reflection without action does not result in change. 

• As your team completes each section, set clear and measurable goals that you all agree on, including changes to practices and processes. 

• Provide a clear description of each staff member’s role in achieving these goals, and identify a clear timeline to review and reassess your progress in strengthening your collaborative practices. 

• You may also want to identify knowledge or areas that need strengthening that can be further developed through professional learning.  

See: Professional learning

If completing this reflection as a group, detailed planning is important.

• Identify who will plan and who will lead the meeting, and carefully consider how barriers to participation, such as perceived power imbalances, can be addressed. 

• Set clear guidelines for how reflections will be framed. For example, “We will focus on practices and processes, and not on challenges or frustrations we have experienced with specific team members”, can help to sensitively identify practical changes that can be made while minimising conflict or hurt feelings. 

Some of the reflective exercises may identify school practices and processes that could facilitate improved collaborative practices for inclusive education.  

• Involve school leaders prior to completing this reflection by discussing what your team is hoping to achieve from this exercise.  

• Reach an understanding with school leaders, and as a team, on what you will communicate from this exercise with school leaders. 

• Develop a shared understanding with leaders of the support(s) that may be available to your team.

Finally, the meeting coordinator should share relevant resources with all team members prior to completing the reflective exercises, to strengthen collective knowledge of strategies and processes that support collaborative practices. These may include:

• Existing school processes from the learning and support team.

• Guide to Teacher-School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) collaborative practices

• Conflict resolution