Nursery World - A Unique Child: A-Z of inclusive practice

By Mary Dickins, early years consultant (All Together Training and Consultancy).

'Inclusion is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging' - Early Childhood Forum (2003)

A is for Attitude. Negative attitudes, prejudice and misinformation are still the biggest barrier to the inclusion of disabled children in our society, despite great strides in recent years in both legislative and practical terms. Early years settings do not exist in a vacuum. They are microcosms that reflect and absorb the views and influences of their local communities and wider society. As a society we need to identify, examine and understand the historical, political and environmental influences that determine current attitudes towards disability and other forms of difference.

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