Equality, diversity and inclusion
The Alliance believes that all children and adults have the right to be treated equally. However, in the United Kingdom many families and their children face inequality and exclusion for reasons relating to:
For more information about these strands of equality please visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website www.equalityhumanrights.com
A right to be included
By using the principle that inclusion is a right for all children, early years settings can make sure that every child:
- has an equal chance to learn and develop
- participates equally in activities
- is given the opportunity to communicate in their preferred format
- has their individual needs known and met
- feels safe and know they belong
- is valued as a unique individual and
- feels strong and confident about their identity.
Early years settings should ensure that a child’s right to be included is at the heart of their practice by fully implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and guidance
Lawful practice
Government legislation sets out a framework for addressing equality and inclusion. For more information about current legislation visit www.idea.gov.uk
Currently there are three new Bills going through Parliament which will help address other areas of inequality i.e. the Children’s Rights Bill, the Child Poverty Bill and the Equality Bill.
For more information about the progress of these Bills as they pass through Parliament visit http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
The Alliance recommends that settings formulate and implement a Single Equality Scheme (SES) to ensure that practice is lawful and inclusive. For information on how to implement a SES,
click here
Supporting settings
The Alliance supports settings to be inclusive by:
- offering advice, support and training on inclusive practice
- providing a voice for the sector to raise relevant issues to other voluntary organisations and government bodies
- holding an annual inclusion conference
- providing a helpline for member settings and parents to deal with enquiries relating to inclusion: 0207 697 2557/0207 697 2574
- producing publications, research and downloadable resources.
Inclusion Conference — Changing Attitudes,18 – 19 March 2010
In the past decade, government policies, EYFS and new Ofsted guidelines have provided tools for developing good inclusive practice. These measures will only truly succeed if they are supported by an inclusive ethos across our culture.
Changing Attitudes 2010 provides an opportunity to reflect on a decade of developments and signpost the way to a real cultural change where inclusion is the mainstream.
For more information about the conference, including speaker biographies and seminars details, click here
Contact us
For more information, contact Nicky Gibson, Inclusion Manager, on 020 7697 2557 or email nicola.gibson@pre-school.org.uk