Nursery World - A unique child: Inclusion: A-Z of inclusive practice

Mary Dickins is 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)

In an inclusive setting an important principle is that all stakeholders have a voice and are listened to. However, in our preoccupation with planning and outcomes, it is the voices of the children themselves that are often neglected.

The right for children to have a say in matters that concern them is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 12, which states that every child has the right to express their views freely - about everything that affects them. Recently the Childcare Act 2006 has placed a duty on local authorities to take into account children's views of the services they receive.

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