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Collaborating with colleagues and other professionals

Schools are working environments where interpersonal interactions are an essential component of the work life of teachers and other professionals. Harvesting the professional skills available within, as well as between, schools and external service providers through collaboration can contribute significantly to student learning success and participation in social and extra-curricular activities within inclusive school contexts. Collaboration in schools may take many forms and involves multiple stakeholders, including students, parents/carers and teacher aides (see Chapters 11, 14 and 16 respectively). This chapter focuses on professional collaboration as the interaction between teachers and other professionals when engaged in collective problem solving and joint action. After defining professional collaboration in the inclusive school context, we will discuss the known benefits for both professionals and students, describe some of the activities that may be undertaken, and explore factors that will add to its success. Finally, we will use a series of vignettes to show how professional collaboration may be enacted in inclusive schools.