Four teachers talking: social inclusion, professional development and (un)contested meaning

The concept of social inclusion has been adopted as an overarching guide to policy by the New Labour government in the United Kingdom (following some of its European counterparts) and this extends into the realm of education. However, although the term is in currency, its true value and sense is not yet clear to many educational practitioners - even those who are dealing with projects directly inspired by it. Four teachers working in posts concerned with social inclusion reflect on their own professional development and that of their colleagues. This provides the context for a discussion of the conflicts, tensions and contested meanings they experience in their daily work.