Let’s Talk Inclusion...

Proposed changes encompass, but are not limited to, a sharpened focus on children with SEND and several new evaluation areas, with ‘inclusion’ being among them. 

Looking at some of the inspection documents that form part of Ofsted’s proposals, it’s clear inclusion will become more of an inspection focus due to the narrative around ‘an inclusive curriculum’ and ‘inclusive teaching’ included in the draft early years inspection toolkit.

Inclusion in the early years is almost like a golden thread that runs through all aspects of everyday practice. It links together everything from creating a welcoming and supportive environment, where all children feel valued and respected, to adapting practices, resources, and interactions to ensure equitable access to learning and play opportunities for every child.

Effective educators are, of course, responsive to children and babies, and we know that dedicated, passionate key persons are relentless in their approach to breaking down the barriers that individual children face. They tackle these confidently and precisely, reviewing any adaptations systematically and adjusting them as needed to optimise children’s learning and care.

So, by design, high-quality early education and care is inclusive, with children’s areas of need identified quickly and support given promptly so all children receive the help they require to flourish. The right support at the right time enables children to feel valued and gives security so they can express themselves freely; they can then, in turn, go on to progress well in their learning and development.

Promoting a sense of belonging: Inclusive settings create a sense of belonging where all children feel they are accepted, welcomed, valued for who they are, and, ultimately, are really ‘seen’.

Addressing barriers to participation: Inclusion involves identifying and addressing any barriers that might prevent children fromfully participating in activities and learning experiences.

Adaptable practices: Inclusive practices involve adapting teaching methods, resources, and activities to meet the diverse needs of all children.

Focus on individual needs: Inclusive providers recognise that each child is unique and will have different learning styles and needs, individualising their approach accordingly.

Collaboration with families: Inclusion involves working closely with families to understand their child's needs and home circumstances to collaborate on strategies to support their child's learning, development and wellbeing.

Positive relationships: Inclusion fosters positive relationships between children and adults, as well as among children themselves, creating a supportive, nurturing and relational environment.

Attending high-quality inclusive early years provision can help support young children who are at risk of, or have faced, inequality and discrimination.

Effective inclusive practice provides all children with access to opportunities and support during the earliest and most influential years of their learning and growing. It also helps enable children to be confident in who they are and what they aspire to in the future.

Early years providers are well placed to celebrate individual children, providing a safe environment where families, staff and children can learn about each other’s differences and similarities, and learn to empathise and value each other.

To be an inclusive provider, early years settings should be proactive at addressing barriers to inclusion such as negativity, conscious and unconscious bias, and stereotyping.

Educators need to be confident, committed, and competent in their ability to be equal and inclusive. It takes a whole-group approach to help develop positive attitudes, implement clear strategies, and nurture collaborative approaches. This will require settings to adopt a can-do approach that reaches beyond statutory policy and legislative requirements to develop active anti-discriminatory attitudes and positive practice.

In its introduction, the EYFS talks about ‘equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported’ – and this what settings should consistently aim for.

Benefits of inclusion in the early years:

• Improved learning outcomes: Inclusion can lead to improved learning outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND.
• Greater social and emotional development: Inclusion fosters social and emotional development, helping children to build positive relationships and develop empathy.
  
• Increased self-esteem and confidence: Inclusion can boost self-esteem and confidence in children, helping them to feel valued and respected.
  
• Ready for the future: Inclusion prepares children for a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone is valued and respected.
  

CPD and professional development opportunities are key to enabling early educators to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. To be that confident, committed and capable key person, and to be able to put children’s individual needs first, professional development and training are essential, helping to give children the very best start.

To empower providers to expand expertise around supporting children’s individual learning, further consider the unique child, collaborate with families in true partnership, and be ahead of the game for the Ofsted inspection reforms, we have a collection of high quality CPD resources that are not to be missed…

We’re very excited to shout about our Inclusion CPD Package! An extension of our existing training, events and in-house training offer, the inclusion materials are designed to inspire early years providers to enhance learning opportunities that they create for their children.

Inclusion is about ensuring all children have that equity of access; engaging with the Alliance’s inclusion package means providers can choose from a selection of courses, ranging from one to two hours to creating a full or half-day bespoke package that exclusively meets individual training requirements. What’s even better is that these courses can be delivered in person and/or virtually at a time that suits the provider.

As with all our training, this package offers providers the flexibility to select the content based on the needs of their provision, along with consistency in ensuring that everyone is hearing the same message at the same time and can move forward together with implementing learning into practice.

Through our suite of inclusion-themed learning resources, we’ll delve into everything from sensory processing, understanding and supporting behaviour, and working with children with SEND to Makaton, unique families, and supporting multilingual children and families.

Inclusive practice is the perfect vehicle for children’s holistic development and wellbeing. Our courses are designed for the whole early years sector – from childminding professionals and group providers to colleagues delivering baby and toddler groups and creches for families.

• Equality, diversity and inclusion in the early years
• Gender stereotyping in the early years
• Becoming actively anti-racist
  
• Nurturing sensory wellbeing in inclusive environments
  
• Supporting children’s emotional wellbeing in the early years
  
• Supporting children for whom English is an additional language
  
• Understanding behaviour in the early years
  
• An introduction to working with children with SEND
  
• Taking a closer look at cultural capital
  
• The unique child. 
  

Find out more at bit.ly/U5inclusionCPD.

And that’s not all – don't forget the brand-new Alliance toolkit, Supporting children with SEND in the early years: Celebrating every child. This toolkit makes a valuable addition to the CPD package as it’s full of interactive resources designed for educators and families to engage with.

Alliance experts are also busy creating more resources to add to this innovative package, with a publication, two workshops and new eLearning modules on the way. This CPD package will evolve, be continually added to, and keep building momentum... so, lots more to come!

To find out more about this offer and what each course option consists of, please visit EYA Central: bit.ly/U5-EYA-Central.