At least 75 million primary-school-aged children around the world have never been to school. Most of these children aren’t in school because they are poor, or because they are girls, have a disability or are from a minority ethnic group. More than half live in countries affected by conflict. Global efforts to get all children into school by 20151 will fail unless schools welcome and support the children who are missing out.

This policy brief seeks to address what is keeping children out of school, what does inclusive education mean and what can be done to improve the situation.