Equality and diversity are fundamental to good practice in the early years, but this is also a complex and tricky area that can raise uncomfortable issues for practitioners.
Different backgrounds and experiences can lead to entrenched attitudes that are hard to re-examine; there can be a tendency to rail against political correctness; there is sometimes a feeling that if no children in the nursery have a disability or speak a different language, then there is no need to consider these issues.
To help early years settings reflect, discuss and act to improve their practice in equality and diversity, this week we begin an eight part series written by early years consultant and regular Nursery World contributor Anne O'Connor.
Anne is currently developing equality and diversity training materials with Lancashire Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Service, and she will be focusing on subjects including gender, age, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, language and culture, faith and belief, and ability.
The series will build up into a brilliant resource for nurseries, pre-schools, schools and childminders wanting to move towards successful anti-bias practice. It will be published in the fourth issue of each month, so make sure you don't miss any.
This pull-out series follows our hugely popular set on Observation, Assessment and Practice in the EYFS, by Helen Bromley. New readers who missed it, or anyone wanting extra sets, can now buy the complete pack for £7.99. See our website www.nurseryworld.co.uk/Books.
Nursery World Awards
Best of luck to all our finalists for the Nursery
World Awards tomorrow night (Friday). See the full results in next week's issue.
