Teachers’ perspectives on supporting special needs in inclusive high schools

Background Inclusive education aims to integrate students with special educational needs (SEN) into mainstream classrooms. Teachers’ attitudes and emotional support practices play a crucial role in the success of this integration. Previous research indicates a strong connection between supportive teacher attitudes and the effective emotional support of SEN students.Purpose This study explores the relationship between teachers’ attitudes and the emotional support they provide to SEN students in inclusive classroom settings. It aims to examine how these attitudes influence support practices and to identify key challenges that impede effective inclusion.Method A mixed-method approach was used, combining teacher focus group interviews, and classroom observations, to collect attitudinal and behavioural data. Thirteen teachers participated in the study. Their attitudes were analysed alongside their observed support practices to assess points of alignment and divergence.Findings Most teachers expressed broadly supportive attitudes towards inclusion, which were, in the main, reflected in classroom practices that demonstrated emotional support. Observational data indicated that most of these teachers fostered a supportive classroom climate. In contrast, a small number demonstrated less supportive attitudes with inconsistency in the emotional support provided. A lack of effective professional development and limited resources emerged as common barriers to providing consistent and effective emotional support.Conclusion The study highlights the nuanced relationship between teacher attitudes and emotional support for SEN students. While supportive attitudes among most teachers contributed to more effective inclusion practices, challenges such as insufficient professional development and resource limitations undermined consistency. Although the small sample size limits generalisability, the study identifies potential areas for improvement. Further research with a broader range of methodologies is recommended.