Inclusive practice requires systems that are connected, visible and easy to use. In many schools, this strengthening of practice often begins within learning support, where bringing information into one place builds a clearer picture of individual learners and strengthens communication with families - without adding layers of administration.
Across education systems worldwide, inclusion is becoming an increasingly important focus. As student needs become more diverse and expectations around visibility and support continue to grow, schools are strengthening how they identify needs early, coordinate support, communicate clearly with families, and ensure that every learner is known and understood.
For school leaders and teachers, this brings both opportunity and complexity. Strengthening inclusive practice requires thoughtful coordination and the right support.
At its heart, inclusion is about connection - between educators, families, and the learner.
Recently, Ginnie Chapman, Hero Education Consultant and former school principal, spoke with Anna Ashby (Deputy Principal & SENCO) and Leigh Hurford (Associate Principal) from Knights Stream School about how they are strengthening inclusive practice by bringing learning support information into one connected space within Hero.
Knights Stream is a vibrant and growing full primary school that opened in 2019. Their collaborative culture and strong focus on student wellbeing make them a compelling example of how inclusive intent can be supported by thoughtful systems.
One Connected Picture of the Learner
Like many schools, Knights Stream previously held important support information across multiple sources; assessment reports, specialist feedback, teacher insights and pastoral notes.
Bringing this information together within Hero has strengthened visibility while simplifying workflows. Rather than searching across platforms or requesting documents from colleagues, educators can access what they need in one place.
As Leigh explains:
“The more that we can have everything sitting in one place that builds a picture of our students and their individual needs, is really beneficial - not just for the SENCO, but so classroom teachers have that information at their fingertips.”
When context is clear and accessible, educators are better equipped to respond consistently and thoughtfully. Time spent locating information is reduced. Time spent supporting learners increases.
Strengthening Continuity Through Transitions
Transitions are important milestones in any learner’s journey. At Knights Stream, teachers preparing for a new class can access key information from the outset, allowing them to begin the year with insight and understanding, without needing weeks of follow-up conversations to piece together background context.
“You’re able to delve into their Hero profile straight away, which is helpful when thinking about how best to meet their needs, right from the start of the year.”
This early visibility supports smooth transitions and reduces the administrative load often associated with handovers. Support begins with clarity.
A Shared Understanding Across the School
Inclusive practice strengthens when everyone working with a learner has access to relevant information at the right time.
As Anna explains:
“Team leaders always have access to information about the learners they’re working with. Teachers can go in and see that information so they are able to better understand and meet their needs.”
Hero enables teachers, leaders and support staff to view insights in one place, supporting collaboration and shared responsibility. Conversations become clearer. Planning is aligned. Support strategies are consistent across classrooms and leadership teams. Importantly, this shared understanding happens within the natural flow of teachers’ existing work. Inclusion becomes embedded rather than additional.
Strengthening Home-School Partnerships
One of the most powerful aspects of Knights Stream’s approach is how Hero supports meaningful communication with families. For learners working towards personalised goals, families can receive updates that reflect individual progress and next steps.
Anna reflects:
“When children may not be accessing the curriculum in the traditional way, Hero still provides us an opportunity to share how they’re doing in relation to the goals they’re working on.”
Rather than generic updates, families receive meaningful insights about growth, progress and next steps. This builds trust and fosters partnership, reinforcing that home and school are working together around the learner.
Using Data to Guide Conversations
Knights Stream also uses Hero to review patterns in learning and behaviour, supporting informed discussions within leadership teams and at board level. Rather than sitting in static reports or separate spreadsheets, data becomes part of an ongoing dialogue - accessible, current and easy to interpret.
“The capability of Hero means we can improve the way that we collect and use our data, both in conversations with teachers and when reporting to the board.”
As inclusion is central to school strategy, leaders are looking for ways to strengthen visibility, coordination and partnership without adding administrative pressure. Systems that bring learning, wellbeing and communication together help make inclusive practice both effective and sustainable.
Inclusion as Everyday Practice
What stands out most from Knights Stream’s experience is how naturally inclusion sits within their daily systems. When learning support information sits alongside assessment, reporting and communication, schools are able to build a holistic profile of the learner, one that reflects both personal achievement and individual needs.
Inclusion ensures every learner is seen, known, understood and supported - with families as genuine partners in their child’s journey. When systems actively strengthen that connection, schools can focus their energy where it matters most: empowering every learner to thrive.
If you’re interested in exploring how Hero supports connected, visible and sustainable inclusive practice in your school, we’d love to share more about how learning support, communication and data can come together in one place. Feel free to get in touch for further information
