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

By Mary Dickins, an early years consultant (All Together Consultancy/London Met. University)

"Inclusion is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging"

Early Childhood Forum (2003)

While a consensus exists that quality in early years provision is desirable, there is no such agreement about what it might look like in practice. One of the myths around the inclusion of disabled children is that they may somehow dilute the quality of the provision by making extra demands on staff and failing to meet developmental targets. This is unlikely, especially where there is good practice and appropriate support and training. An inclusive setting will consider the opportunity for children to learn about and value difference as a vital part of what constitutes quality in their early years provision.

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