Observing the quality of classroom inclusion through the Inclusive Classroom Profile adapted to the Italian context

The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) is a structured observation rating scale developed to assess the quality of classroom inclusion in the pre-school context. The aim of this study is to explore the use of an adapted version of the ICP in the Italian educational context proposing the use of this tool not only in pre-schools but also in primary and lower secondary schools. Therefore, this study analyses the quality of classroom inclusion in 29 Italian pre-school, primary, and lower secondary classes using the adapted version of the ICP. Statistical analyses indicate that while most inclusive practices were rated as acceptable or good, the ‘Membership’ item scored significantly lower compared to the other items’ scores. Comparing school levels, the ICP scores revealed a difference in ‘Adaptation of Space’ and ‘Materials’, with higher scores in pre-school than in secondary school. Practical implications and further research are also discussed.