A piece of cake? Inclusive practices in early childhood settings

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This valuable resource book, published by Yooralla in Victoria, gives an opportunity for all early childhood professionals to reflect on their current practice, while enhancing their understanding of inclusion for children with a disability or developmental delay, and their families.

The authors acknowledge that early childhood professionals are very busy people with little time to reflect on big-picture issues, so the book encourages people to progressively address areas such as approach to work, views of the child, teamwork, families, community and the environment.

The introductory chapter sets the scene for defining inclusion as working with each child in an early childhood setting in ways that:

• support development, learning and wellbeing
• take into account the family’s priorities, aims and dreams for their child
• offer choices among a range of worthwhile experiences and access to a variety of equipment and materials
• support constructive responses to challenges
• promote the development of a sense of self as a valued unique individual
• enable a sense of belonging and acceptance to develop
• encourage children to look for strengths and talents in themselves and other children
• help children to see beyond differences to similarities and to appreciate the common humanity that unites us.

Inclusion is not just what you do but also the spirit behind what you do – how and why you do what you do. To do it well, inclusion must be embraced enthusiastically rather than approached as something you have to do. The approaches in this book will set you on the path to achieving this goal in your early childhood practice.