All Together We Can Read: A Programme Promoting Inclusion in Portuguese School Libraries

Abstract

Inclusion is highlighted by several international organisations as a priority to be takeninto account in each country's educational policies. Portugal has been following these guidelinesand commitments, publishing legislation with a comprehensive approach to the concept of‘inclusion’ and monitoring its implementation in educational communities. School libraries, asstructures of the Ministry of Education, integrate, in their action plans, reading promotion projectsaimed at specific audiences. The main aim is the integration of all students, creating conditions forthem to fully enjoy the benefits of reading. In this article, we present the results of the project "AllTogether We Can Read", implemented in 62 schools over the last five years. Although there areareas for improvement, the evaluation reports point to a strong impact of the project in improvingstudent learning and af irming the school library as a structure for pedagogical innovation andknowledge induction.