The aim of this research is to strengthen the evidence base on current practice. The findings will inform future policy and decision-making on pupil inclusion and belonging, including for pupils with SEND, as part of the government’s Opportunity Mission.
School leaders from primary and secondary schools across England. This includes headteachers, senior leaders, SENDCos and other members of leadership teams who are involved in shaping whole-school approaches to inclusion and pupil wellbeing.
This research involves a review of existing evidence, as well as the development and testing of a survey focused on school inclusion and belonging. We will be interviewing school staff to inform the development of the survey and piloting the survey with a small number of schools, before the national survey is administered.
Participation involves completing an online survey, which takes approximately 15 in total and can be accessed on any internet-connected device. Around 10 minutes of the survey will focus on questions about inclusion and belonging, with the remaining 5 minutes inviting feedback on the clarity and relevance of the questions to help inform the survey’s development.
An initial pilot study will run in Spring 2026 to test the feasibility of conducting a national survey. The findings of this pilot will inform the evaluation and survey design of the national survey which will run in the Summer and Autumn terms of 2026.
This research will contribute to national evidence that informs government policy and supports evidence-based decision-making. It will help ensure that future guidance and resources are shaped by the experiences and priorities of schools across England.
The project will run from January 2026 to January 2027.
A number of schools will be contacted directly by NFER in February 2026 and invited to take part in an initial pilot survey. The main survey will be sent out to thousands of primary and secondary schools across England later this year.
Please contact the evaluation team at: [email protected] if you have any questions.