Can I include code into a PHP class?

Might it not be an idea to create the core class with the relevant base functionality and then extend this with the required methods - it seems like a more logical approach.

No. You cannot include files in the class body.
In a file defining a class, you may only include files in a method body or outside the class body.

From your description I take you want this:

<?php // MyClass.php
class MyClass
{
    protected $_prop;
    include 'myclass-methods.php';
}

<?php // myclass-methods.php
public function myMethod()
{
   $this->$_prop = 1;
}

Running this code will result in

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_INCLUDE, expecting T_FUNCTION

What is possible though is this

<?php // MyClass.php
class MyClass
{
    protected $_prop;
    public function __construct() // or any other method
    {
        include 'some-functions.php';
        foo($b); // echoes 'a';
    }
}

<?php // some-functions.php
$b = 'a';
function foo($str)
{
   echo $str;
}

Doing it this way, will import the contents of the include file into the method scope, not the class scope. You may include functions and variables in the include file, but not methods. You could but should not put entire scripts into it as well and change what the method does, e.g.

<?php // MyClass.php
    // ...
    public function __construct($someCondition)
    {
        // No No Code here
        include ($someCondition === 'whatever') ? 'whatever.php' : 'default.php';
    }
    // ...

<?php // whatever.php
    echo 'whatever';

<?php // default.php
    echo 'foo';

However, patching the class this way to exhibit different behavior is not how you should do it in OOP. It's just plain wrong and should make your eyes bleed.

Since you want to dynamically change behavior, extending the class is also not a good option (see below why). What you really will want to do is write an interface and make your class use objects implementing this interface, thus making sure the appropriate methods are available. This is called a Strategy Pattern and works like this:

<?php // Meowing.php 
interface Meowing
{
    public function meow();
}

Now you got the contract that all Meowing Behaviors must obey, namely having a meow method. Next define a Meowing Behavior:

<?php // RegularMeow.php
class RegularMeow implements Meowing
{
    public function meow()
    {
        return 'meow';
    }
}

Now to use it, use:

<?php // Cat.php
class Cat
{
    protected $_meowing;

    public function setMeowing(Meowing $meowing)
    {
        $this->_meowing = $meowing;
    }

    public function meow()
    {
        $this->_meowing->meow()
    }
}

By adding the Meowing TypeHint to setMeowing, you make sure that the passed param implements the Meowing interface. Let's define another Meowing Behavior:

<?php // LolkatMeow.php
class LolkatMeow implements Meowing
{
    public function meow()
    {
        return 'lolz xD';
    }
}

Now, you can easily interchange behaviors like this:

<?php
require_once 'Meowing.php';
require_once 'RegularMeow.php';
require_once 'LolkatMeow.php';
require_once 'Cat.php';

$cat = new Cat;
$cat->setMeowing(new RegularMeow);
echo $cat->meow; // outputs 'meow';
// now to change the behavior
$cat->setMeowing(new LolkatMeow);
echo $cat->meow; // outputs 'lolz xD';

While you also could have solved the above with inheritance by defining an abstract BaseCat and meow method and then deriving concrete RegularCat and Lolkat classes from that, you have to consider what you want to achieve. If your cats will never change the way they meow, go ahead and use inheritance, but if your RegularCat and Lolkat is supposed to be able to do arbitrary meows, then use the Strategy pattern.

For more design patterns in PHP, check these resources:

• http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.patterns.php
• http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/os-php-designptrns/
• http://www.fluffycat.com/PHP-Design-Patterns/
• http://sourcemaking.com/design_patterns