Beyond age labels: Creating systematic approaches to resource assessment in inclusive education

SARA MURŠIĆ, FOUNDER, TOYSCOPE, UK Educational resources offer rich opportunities for learning and complement teaching at all levels of education, yet selecting and assessing these materials for an increasingly diverse population of students remains a complex challenge. With more than 1.6 million pupils in England identified as having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) (DfE, 2024), the guidance for selecting developmentally appropriate and safe resources for this population remains surprisingly limited. This article examines the current guidance gap in resource assessment and proposes practical approaches for developing more systematic frameworks, aiming to empower practitioners and leaders to make informed decisions that balance resource implementation opportunities with appropriate safety considerations. Building on initial work from the ToyScope project, which has developed resources for families navigating toy safety concerns, this article explores how similar ap