Close-to-Practice Research: Ethical Considerations
- General
- 12 Oct 2026
Before starting or publishing close-to-practice research, it’s important to step back and check that your enquiry is right for your learners, your colleagues and your role. This editable checklist takes you through the key ethical questions.
It covers seven areas:
- Time and workload: is the enquiry realistic and proportionate?
- Impact on learners: does it protect learning and act in learners’ best interests?
- Power and relationships: is participation genuinely voluntary?
- Inclusion and fairness: are all learners, including those with additional needs, included meaningfully?
- Professional boundaries: does your research stay within your remit, with safeguarding central?
- Usefulness and purpose: will the findings genuinely inform practice?
- Transparency with colleagues: do others understand the purpose and how findings will be used?
A final sense check asks whether you’d be comfortable explaining your research to a parent or carer, or discussing it with a senior leader or inspector.
You can complete the form directly in the PDF. When you’re ready to share your research through the Inclusive Practice Hub, email your completed checklist to info@wholeschoolsend.org.uk.
Suitable for: Strategic SEND Leader, Head Teacher, Inclusion Manager/Leader, SENCO, Senior Leader, Teacher
