This paper reflects on the relevance of non-formal
education in childhood and adolescence, with particular emphasis on attention
to diversity, highlighting the importance of including the social and family
environment in this learning process. For this purpose, a global theoretical
review of special education in Spain is presented, firstly addressing its
formal historical evolution up to the birth of what is known as educational inclusion.
Thus, a new educational model based on attention to diversity for students with
specific educational support needs (SESN) is created to provide learning
focused on optimizing students’ personal and academic development. This
comprehensive vision impacts socio-educational intervention from a non-formal
field of education as a complementary alternative to formal education at
different life cycle stages and in many contexts.
