"Inclusion is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging"
Early Childhood Forum (2003)
Thinking about children's entitlements rather than their needs can be useful when developing inclusive practice. The idea that some children might have special or additional 'needs' can imply a deficiency on the part of those individual children and promote a view of them as passive rather than active recipients, whereas all children have an equal 'entitlement' to quality services. The term 'entitlement' ensures that disabled children and those with other forms of SEN are not set apart from the population of children as a whole.
The term is often used in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which underpins the moves that many countries are making towards inclusive practice. Needs may vary across cultures and settings, but rights are a universal concept. All children, for example, should be entitled to be well fed, physically active, mentally stimulated and safe from physical and emotional harm.
The EYFS establishes the four overarching principles of A Unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments and Learning and Development to inform our thinking and practice. The EYFS acknowledges that all children are citizens and have rights and entitlements.
Many young children are excluded from school or nursery every year. Many children with SEN and disabilities do not gain admission to mainstream settings in the first place. As a sad consequence, these children are less likely to have their entitlements to a quality early learning experience met. Inclusive practice demands that exclusion should be an absolute last resort, and that those settings who feel that they cannot cope with an individual child should have access to appropriate advice, training and support.
Useful links in relation to this topic are:
- www.cafamily.org.uk/families/rights and- www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_4295rx_114738012938a35c_2008106120qentitlements/index.html
- www.unicef.org.uk/tz/resources/resource_item.asp?id=23
- www.participationworks.org.uk
- www.ncb.org.uk/cdc/extending_inclusion_april08.pdf
- www.11million.org.uk/early_years/
Mary Dickens is an early years consultant (All Together Consultancy and London Metropolitan University)
