“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject: Inclusion Policy
Element 6.2.2: Access and Participation
Effective partnerships support children’s access, inclusion and participation in the program.
Inclusion means that every child has access to, participates meaningfully in, and experiences positive outcomes from early childhood education and care programs, routines and environments. It involves considering all children’s backgrounds and needs, their social, cultural and linguistic diversity including learning styles, abilities, disabilities, gender, family circumstances and geographical location in curriculum decision-making processes. (Early Years Learning Framework, Framework for School Age Care).
Ensure that your Inclusion Policy has recently been reviewed and reflects current research and children’s culture and abilities. Your Inclusion policy underpins your Service philosophy, which clearly details a commitment to the inclusion of all children from all backgrounds and abilities. Share your Inclusion Policy with educators and families and request input/feedback via reflective questions:
- What does inclusion mean to you?
- Why do we believe that it is important to include children who have a disability in our setting? Who will benefit from this, and how?
- How do we access support for children’s specific individual requirements and rights?
- What inclusion support services are available to provide tailored advice for our service?
- How are we assisting children and their families to develop a sense of belonging to their local community?
- In what ways do we work with schools and other community organisations to support children and families? How effective are these strategies and how can we improve them?
Reconciliation Action Plans:
Consider developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to build awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions and to support the implementation of reconciliation initiatives.
Resources:
Inclusion of Children with Additional Needs-Learning Package
Curriculum decision making for inclusive practice
Inclusion Resources- Victorian Inclusion Agency
Within System7 go to Quality Area 6/Module 23 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with inclusion. These include an Anti-Bias and Inclusion Policy (LDC, FDC, OSHC), Strategic Inclusion Plan Guide, Additional Needs Policy (LDC, FDC, OSHC) , Inclusive Audit and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 6/ 6.2.2- Access and participation
National Regulations – 73, 76, 155, 156, 157, 172
System7 Module – QA 6/ Module 23
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
