Inclusive curricula for students with severe intellectual disabilities or profound and multiple learning difficulties: a scoping review

The capacity for all students to meaningfully access the curriculum is a central tenant of inclusion. Investigation into curriculum provision for students with severe intellectual disabilities or profound and multiple learning difficulties (S/PMLD) receives little consideration in the literature; however, it has increasing relevance in designing and implementing standardised curriculums intended to be inclusive of all students. This scoping review aims to analyse the structures and elements of a standardised curriculum that best enables the authentic inclusion of students who have S/PMLD. The philosophical, design and practice considerations in constructing an inclusive curriculum structure for students with S/PMLD in a standardised educational system are discussed. Results are further explored to create a basis for discussion, provide guidance for policymakers and outline a future research platform.