Inclusive practice in the early years

Statutory Framework and Equality Act
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Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) states that:

The EYFS seeks to provide:

  • equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported.

Early Years Quality Advisers can support early years and childcare providers to review provision and practice to ensure that all children do well, that children at risk of delay, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and children with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes.

Early years inspection handbook for Ofsted-registered provision for September 2021, Introduction, paragraph 13:

‘We recognise that the disruption to learning caused by the pandemic may have impacted on what children know, remember and can do. This could result in some children having a wider than usual range of starting points and gaps in their knowledge. Inspectors will pay close attention to how providers identify and address any of these delays and gaps’.

All early years providers have duties under the Equality Act 2010. Early years providers must promote equality of opportunity and make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of children e.g. removing physical barriers. Providers also have an anticipatory duty to ensure that they are well prepared in advance to include children into their setting with SEND and their parents.

Council for Disabled Children document:

Supporting children with medical conditions in early years settings
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A useful link to health protection in schools and other childcare facilities

Resources and training to promote diversity in the early years and to help you talk with young children about race
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Promoting Equality for all - Showing respect for and valuing all communities. Black Lives Matter.

As educators, we all need to learn to embrace the uncomfortable and understand that we might get it wrong. It is important to take a proactive approach, being able to educate ourselves, acknowledge racial differences and recognise unconscious bias that we all have within us.

More information, resources and details of support available through The Education People including:

  • Black History Month - Resource Pack available
  • Black History Month - Useful Links and Resources

We would encourage staff, parents, carers and stakeholders to utilise the resources provided; to be aware of, and peacefully stand against, racism; to be race conscious; and treat all people, irrespective of skin colour, race or gender equally and fairly.

Supporting bereaved young children in early years settings
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Small Steps is a support guide for pre-school settings to help a child with their first steps in their grieving journey. This document is available either online or a hard copy through The Education People website

Supporting Children in Care (CIC) and/or Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) in early years settings
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Virtual School Kent (VSK) acts as a local authority champion to promote the progress and educational attainment of children and young people who are, or who have been in care.

The VSK Advisory Team champions the needs of three of the Virtual School cohorts. These are:

  • Previously Looked After Children.
  • Children with a Social Worker.
  • Children living in Kinship Care arrangements.

They have produced this information guide (PDF, 729.6 KB) to support your understanding of the work they do for Kent children. This includes information on Education Plans, accessing Early Years Pupil Premium and contact details for their advisory teams.

Useful links
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Return to Early Years and Childcare Quality Team page

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