Joining the childcare sector presents many new experiences for young apprentices, not least the challenge of meeting and working with adults and children from widely different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds.
However, effective training and policies on equality, diversity and inclusion will enable them to embrace the diverse mix in their settings. This is why the core unit 'Promote Equality and Inclusion' is so important in the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce.
Mine Conkbayir, senior programme manager for apprentices at the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), explains, 'Initially we deliver equal opportunities units which build the apprentices' personal perspectives, and then we open the session out wider to look at the impact on the children in the nursery.'
The aim is to help the learner understand themselves and then understand how they view others who are different. 'Once we have got them to understand their own views and how they view others, then we start talking about the nursery and the wider community.'
She believes this approach is much more effective than just focusing on the company's equal opportunities policy in an academic way, as it engages the apprentices and gets them thinking and exploring their feelings and understanding about what inclusion really means. They can then develop a step further and fully incorporate equality and inclusion into their day-to-day practice rather than pay lip service to something to which they do not feel especially connected.
IMPACT OF DISCRIMINATION
Ms Conkbayir says that in discussion sessions, the apprentices air their views and experiences and consider how they respond to different people. For example, a discussion might involve someone whose family, because of their religion, is homophobic considering how to welcome and behave in a professional way with a gay couple who enrol their child in nursery.
'Our apprentices are very honest. Some of them come to us after disengagement with the education process, or have had difficult home lives with domestic turbulence, or they talk about being bullied,' says Ms Conkbayir.
'The main element of this unit is defining equality, diversity and inclusiveness. We look at medical and social models of disability and we look at the relevant legislation.'
The group works its way through the LEYF equal opportunities policy. 'We evaluate our policies and look at effects of discrimination on the parents and children, both in the long term and short term.'
In the past she has run a powerful exercise with learners to encourage them to consider what happens in a non-inclusive culture.
'I get them to draw a picture of a child and then rip pieces off piece by piece. We see what is left when you rip off a piece of a child who is socially isolated, and then rip off a piece because the child is sad at being rejected and is not mixing with peers, and then rip off a piece because the child is not physically engaged.'
INCLUSION IN PRACTICE
Veruti Patel, aged 21, is an apprentice at LEYF's Bessborough Community Nursery and says that since joining the setting she has met people from many different backgrounds.
'We have a baby who has just started who has Italian parents and when the parents talk about the things they do at home, it is just completely different. I am from an Indian background. I listen to all the stories people bring in about what they have been doing and it is amazing.
'I started my course in April. I am enjoying every minute of it. There is a lot of support. It is my first time working in a nursery setting. In the beginning I was very nervous, but I have built up my confidence just doing daily activities with the children. I like the way that with the course you can get the experience within the nursery.'
Her manager, Mona Majed, likes the practical base in the new qualification too. 'You can always get the theory at college. It doesn't matter how much you have read and studied, you do need to see practice and how policies are implemented.'
Ms Patel used her past experiences to think about inclusion. 'Previously I did volunteering in a special school and I saw there that the people with the most severe disabilities were given more attention than the others. Here we ensure there is a balance of individual attention.
'In the study session I found out how easy it can be, although you don't mean it, not to include a child in your activity.
She adds, 'It means you have to be careful when you are doing an activity with the children not to ignore a child. You have to be careful when you are praising a child that you are not excluding another. It is something that you have to keep at the forefront of your mind.
'We did RE at school, but in nursery I am learning about different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds in a more mature way. People in the staff room talk about their experiences, so now I am seeing a side to Christmas that I never saw in school.'
Part 10, in NW 18 October, will look at 'Understand child and young person development'
KEY ELEMENTS OF CORE UNIT, PROMOTE EQUALITY AND INCLUSION
The main elements include:
- Understand the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion, which includes being able to explain what these terms mean, describing the potential effects of discrimination and explaining how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity. Learners consider how discrimination may include the effects on the individual, their families or friends, those who discriminate and our wider society.
- Being able to work in an inclusive way, which includes how the law and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to your own work role and a practical demonstration of interacting with other individuals in a way that respects their beliefs, cultures, values and preferences.
- Being able to promote diversity, equality and inclusion, which includes demonstrating actions that model inclusive practice; demonstrating how to support others in promoting equality and rights; and describing how to challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change.
TOP TIPS
- Understand the laws and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination and how they apply to you and your work role. There is information about the various Acts of Parliament at www.direct.gov.uk/en/governmentcitizensandrights. Another good source of information is the website of the Equality and Human Rights Commission at www.equalityhumanrights.com
- Evaluate your nursery's equal opportunities policy. Ask your manager when it was drawn up, who was involved and how often it is reviewed.
- In nursery you will meet people of many different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs - your colleagues as well as the children and their families. Make the most of this opportunity. Be open with people and listen and learn from others about their experiences.
- Ask to shadow/spend time working with the nursery SENCO and see what the job entails.
