The Inclusive Early Years Educator

With a wealth of case studies, reflective prompts, guidance and strategies, this toolkit aims to give all children the best chance of making progress by helping practitioners identify and celebrate all aspects of individual learners. It will help the reader champion neurodiversity-affirming practice and inclusion in early years education.

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All young children are entitled to high-quality experiences when it comes to their education. Too often, when we meet a child who has learning differences or a disability, our instinct is to sound the alarm bells and call for additional support. The Inclusive Early Years Educator is a resource that encourages us to change our mindset when it comes to children with learning differences and disabilities, considering areas where our provision needs adjustment, in order to be truly inclusive.

This toolkit aims to ensure all children have the best possible chance of making progress by supporting practitioners to identify all children’s strengths and to celebrate all aspects of individual children’s learning. The book:



Provides a holistic picture of a child’s learning, considering an array of reflective opportunities, while always keeping the child at the centre of our thoughts
Includes a wealth of real-life case studies and worked examples
Features a diverse range of contributions from early years professionals as well as the voices of parents
Contains printable forms to encourage and consolidate reflections throughout the book
Is full of signposting and links to further resources and reading, making it an essential guide for the early years

Some of the self-reflections will be challenging and ask us to think about aspects of our practice we may never have previously considered. With accessible guidance and strategies to advocate a change in practice based on lived experience research, The Inclusive Early Years Educator will enable the reader to become an ally for championing neurodiversity-affirming practice and true inclusion in early years education.