The Continuum of Support framework assists schools in identifying and responding to students’ needs. This framework recognises that special educational needs can occur along a continuum, ranging from mild to severe, and from transient to long term, and that students require different levels of support depending on their identified educational needs. The purpose of the Continuum of Support is to meet the needs of all the students in an inclusive environment.
Meaningful inclusion implies that all students are taught in stimulating and supportive classroom environments whereby differences are valued and alternative pathways and supports provide access to the curriculum for all children. The Guidelines present teaching approaches that include a combination of team-teaching initiatives, early intervention and prevention, and small group or individual support. Details which outline how a school can collect evidence about students’ educational needs at each level of the Continuum of Support can be found at (post-primary page 9). This evidence can then be used to adapt teaching, to plan the next steps in students’ learning and to gauge their responses to intervention.