SQUARE PEGS

Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in

A guide for schools

"Helping to bring together the many and varied voices in the book Square Pegs was a complete privilege for me as an editor. Our target audience were those working in schools who knew they wanted to do something to support children struggling in school but didn't know what to do. Compiling so many stories from professionals proving 'there is another way' was a challenge and a delight. The fact it climbed high in the Amazon rankings as soon as it was released proves how valuable a resource it is and, unfortunately, how much of a need there is for what it has to share." 

Ian Gilbert, Independent Thinking & Square Peg Adviser

Reviews

We’ve had some wonderful feedback for our book, here is a selection

  • "This book should be an essential piece of reading for everyone who works with, or is interested in the lives of children who struggle to be included or are often overlooked. In the midst of a lot of noise and anger about a failing system, it focuses our attention on the humanity of children, their individual needs and how to support them to succeed. The short chapters mean it is a book that can be dipped in and out of regularly, looking at excellent legal and practical advice as well as inspirational stories of success."

    DAME CHRISTINE LENEHAN

    Director, National Children's Bureau

  • "Our education system is failing our children and young people. It is a one size system that does not fit all (far from it). Square Pegs is a compelling metaphor that cuts right to the heart of the barriers preventing so many from attending school. It is also a great book which brings together a range of voices to provide an essential toolkit for anybody working with or living with square pegs. It contains practical advice, useful resources and, most importantly, a poignant insight into not fitting in. I hope that it and the wider Square Peg movement will ultimately lead to a reform of education so that our system allows everybody to not only fit, but to thrive."

    DR. CATH LOWTHER

    General Secretary, AEP

  • "It seems likely that increasing numbers of square pegs will continue voting with their feet until we reach crisis point. But this crisis can be averted if we listen to the voices of those affected now. This brilliantly curated book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in creating a more diverse, empathic, responsive educational ecosystem that works for all young people."

    DR. JAMES MANNION

    Director, Rethinking Education and co-author of Fear is the Mind Killer with Kate McAllister

  • "As a school governor, this book provides a real insight into the challenges pupils face in schools and helps to explain different strategies that could be employed to ensure inclusivity. One size does not fit all and its never been truer in schools today than post Covid."

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "A must read for everyone invested in education, highlighting the real risk of how education can cause harm but more importantly, the real opportunity that education offers to heal and embrace the position it has of being a protective factor for so many children and young people."

    LISA CHERRY

    Trauma Informed Consultancy Services Ltd

  • "This book is essential reading for everyone in education, or who is a parent. Disturbing, sad and with a level of honesty rarely seen, the authors give a candid account of the reality of our system for some students - those who don't easily fall in with our increasingly narrow and punitive system. It fired me up to do more and keep pushing what I believe in within the system. These are 'uncomfortable truths' of our system which prioritises competition, individualism and conformity. History is written by the victors they say, and too often, education policy is written by those who have been successful within that system. These are hard voices to listen to, but listen we must, and use those insights to get into action. "

    LIZ ROBINSON

    Big Education

  • "This book needs to be read by as many educators -especially perhaps attendance officers- as possible. I am an advisory teacher in a Local Authority: I unreservedly recommend it for parents, TAs, teachers, Local authority staff, youth workers, social workers and anyone else who can get their hands on it."

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "I warmly welcome this excellent book. Square Pegs is a must read for parents, teachers and all who want an education system which reflects and rejoices in the diversity and individual needs of children. I particularly like the practical tips and advice to help those supporting children who find the schools experience challenging. It should also give educational policy makers and regulators much food for thought in their oversight of our educational system."

    THE RT HONOURABLE LORD PHILLIP HUNT OF KINGS HEATH PC OBE

  • "This is one of the most riveting books on education I have read in a long while. Its aim – to provide practical solutions for schools and families struggling with the increasing number of children who don’t thrive in our current system – could not be more timely. The array of richly qualified writers places compassion, purpose and student autonomy at the heart of best practice. Their approach would surely work not just for those who avoid school, but for those stuck within it. Square Pegs is a must-read for parents, governors, staff and students who’re up for a quiet classroom revolution."

    MADELEINE HOLT

    Filmmaker and education campaigner

  • "This is such a detailed, reflective book that helps understand and gives voice to children for whom school has become too much to bear. There are wonderful academic articles on how to help children and parents and finally it has begun the conversation about support for these unheard children. Buy it for every senco, headteacher and school governor you know!"

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "This is a meticulously researched and highly relevant book for all SEND professionals and parents. It give detailed insight into the challenges young people face in the current system, with contributions from professionals highly respected in their fields, and parents and young people with lived experience."

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "Fran Morgan and Ellie Costello didn’t write this from a researcher or practitioner perspective, but through the eyes of experts by experience and their passion, desire for justice and genuine empathy for square pegs is evident throughout Square Pegs. One of the biggest strengths of the book is its ability to pull together so many voices and give equal weighting to experiences, case studies and theory. On a personal note, as a former square peg, I found this book to be written with empathy, understanding and hope – just what square pegs need."

    REBECCA CROMPTON

    Education Psychologist

  • "Informative and eye-opening. A must read for anyone working with children & young people in a professional capacity, especially those in education, social & governance/policy making care sectors. School absence/refusal is not what you think it is."

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "There is an old African saying: ‘Until the lions have their own historians, the tales of glory will always be written by the hunters.’ Fran Morgan has assembled here some lions and while they don't write too many tales of glory – although there are some – they do make us all realise why so many square pegs unnecessarily gain so little from our schooling system. Twelve years ago, Michael Gove sent a King James bible to every school. The next secretary of state for education should send a copy of this book to every new head teacher and put it on the reading list for all initial teacher training courses."

    SIR TIM BRIGHOUSE

    Co-Author, About Our Schools

  • "We should all be grateful to Square Peg for all they do to advocate for children who need most help, and for showing how schools and parents can work together with children to provide a positive environment to learn. Every child deserves the best start in life, and positive outcomes for all children must be at the heart of a successful education system."

    ANNE LONGFIELD CBE

    Chair, The Centre for Young Lives

  • "Perhaps it's time that we rethought our approach. If we create an education system that works for the square pegs, it will most likely work for all children. This book gave me hopes that one step at a time we will be able to change the system. For the schools of tomorrow, for the children of today."

    AMAZON REVIEW

  • "'SQUARE PEGS' champions empathy, autonomy, co-production, regulation, play, and relationships. It shows us that not being in fine in school is far more common than we’re led to believe, but that maintaining the status quo and continuing to do things the way we’ve always done them is indefensible and cruel. This incredible book should be on the desk of every education minister, headteacher, class teacher, SENDCO, teaching assistant, social worker, education welfare officer, and educational psychologist."

    DR. CHRISTOPHER MOORE

    Education Psychologist

  • "This book offers a wealth of practical examples of how collaboration between schools and families, alongside the will to make a culture shift, can lead to successful inclusion practices. It is very readable and contains practical advice and solutions, framed within the current educational context, that leaders, teachers and support staff can use to create the right systems and support to ensure that every child and young person really is more than just ‘fine in school’. "

    JUDY ELLERBY

    Lead Policy Manager, SEND, Disabled Members, Behaviour, Exclusions, National Education Union

  • "This is a book that is firmly on the side of children as they try to come to terms with a school system that is designed to encourage conformity. It highlights the way some schools manage to set the child at the heart of what they do in every sense of the term. There are case studies that shine a light on the child's perspective and solutions offered for other schools to try. Reading it is both heart-wrenching and uplifting ... but uplifting wins."

    MICK WATERS

    Professor of Education, University of Wolverhampton

  • "This is an outstanding book in terms of content, awareness and relevance of the issues facing schools with increasing numbers of learners falling by the wayside. The authors enable the reader to reflect on real issues that arise and ways forward to promote potential. The book will be a major asset for teachers and lecturers at all levels to develop confidence, awareness, and personal safe practice to promote change. In particular, it serves as a reminder to all senior managers to change the mind set from re-shaping the square peg to broadening the round hole."

    JOHN T MORRIS

    MOTIVA82INSPIRE

  • "This book is steeped in the experience and expertise of families, teachers and leaders. It tells the story of a system that is fraught with unintended consequences, brings the lived experiences of young people alive and challenges the notion of one-size-fits-all strategies. The voice of school leaders and teachers, ambitious to see the young people in their care thrive, roar at us across the page. It’s a book of confidence for professionals and parents alike to rise above the distracting noise about attendance, exclusion and ‘what works’ narratives. A much-needed book ensuring the voice and experience of young people is heard and helping to inform what happens next."

    MARGARET MULHOLLAND

    SEND & Inclusion Policy Specialist, Association of School & College Leaders

  • "Absolutely brilliant resource. A collection of well researched and fully referenced essays from many different professionals outlining ways the education system could be improved to better support our square pegs. I would make it compulsory reading for trainee teachers and ministers in the DfE. Feeling inspired."

    AMAZON REVIEW

Pick up your own copy of the book