Peer-Mediated Social Support in Inclusive Education

Peer-mediated social support encompasses a range of structured approaches in which typically developing pupils actively assist and interact with classmates who have diverse learning needs. Rooted in social learning and inclusive pedagogy, these interventions deploy strategies such as peer tutoring, buddy schemes and befriending circles to foster mutual understanding, social competence and academic engagement. By positioning pupils as collaborators rather than mere recipients of support, these models harness naturalistic interactions to reduce isolation, enhance self-esteem and promote reciprocal friendships. Implementation varies from classroom-based assistance to extracurricular clubs, with the efficacy of each model contingent on clear role definitions, training for peer supporters and ongoing teacher facilitation. Global studies demonstrate that when peers are properly prepared and institutional leaders commit to a whole-school culture of inclusion, students with specific educational needs experience greater school participation, improved communication and a stronger sense of belonging. Despite promising outcomes, challenges remain in standardising protocols across diverse cultural contexts, ensuring fidelity of delivery and capturing long-term social impacts. Emerging work underscores the importance of co-design with pupils, rigorous evaluation frameworks and integrating peer support into broader school-wide inclusion initiatives.

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Peer-Mediated Social Support in Inclusive Education publication trend

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Technical terms

Peer-mediated social support: Interventions in which peers are trained or organised to provide emotional and practical assistance to classmates with diverse learning needs.

Inclusive education: A pedagogical approach ensuring that all pupils, regardless of ability or background, learn together in mainstream settings with appropriate supports.

Specific Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): A term covering a spectrum of learning differences and impairments that require additional support for full access to education.

Circle of Friends: A structured befriending model wherein selected peers learn to support a pupil with additional needs through regular group meetings and activities.

Peer buddying: A pairing system in which a trained peer mentor provides one-to-one academic and social support to a fellow pupil.

Neurodivergent: Describes individuals whose neurological development and functioning diverge from typical norms, encompassing conditions such as autism and ADHD.

References

1. Emotional Peer Support Interventions for Students With SEND: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology (2021).
2. Effects of dialogic reading for comprehension (LuDiCa) on the social interaction of autistic adolescents and their peers. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica (2024).
3. Neurodivergent-designed and neurodivergent-led peer support in school: A feasibility and acceptability study of the neurodivergent peer support toolkit (NEST). Neurodiversity (2024).