International Early Childhood Inclusion Initiative (IECII)
''No child should be treated unfairly on any basis”
Mission Statement: For all children to have the best foundation for their ongoing learning and development. For this to occur, early childhood educators and early interventionists need to have support to ensure they are best placed to develop inclusive practices within their services, and provide high-quality education, support and inclusive learning environments
According to the UN, inclusion is defined as: ‘‘….the process of improving the terms of participation in society, particularly for people who are disadvantaged, through enhancing opportunities, access to resources, voice and respect for rights’‘
“Article 2 (Non-discrimination): The Convention applies to all children, whatever their race, religion or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from. It doesn’t matter where children live, what language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor.”
Inclusion is not just about a child with a disability, but an approach that ensures all children have opportunities to learn and be valued as unique individuals. This IECII will provide high quality, evidence-based training for educators and practitioners, from identification of early developmental vulnerabilities through to transition beyond the service. This training will encompass a wide range of topics which can be adapted to different cultural contexts. This will ensure those working with children are equipped to support all children to work toward their individual potential.
Objectives:
Image credit: Image from Teaching Strategies: The Only Connected Ecosystem in Early Childhood Education.”
- For all children to have their individual needs met in high quality ECEC services
- For educators to develop inclusive environments and curriculums
- For educators to have collaborative relationships with families
- For educators to use inclusive strategies across the day, including in transitions and routines
- For collaborative relationships to be developed with early intervention professionals to support learning for individual children
High quality, evidence-based training for early childhood educators & child therapists to support all children to work toward their full potential
Training modules
- Getting to know the child; identifying developmental concerns
- Having difficult conversations with families
- An integrated approach to early intervention
- Developing a toolbox of strategies to support inclusion
- Building confidence and capacity in your team
- Supporting transitions – within the service and the transition to school
- Creating Sustainable Social Inclusion in Schools
- Utilizing Play-Based Programs to Facilitate Social Inclusion in Schools
- Autism and Play
- Designing Inclusive Playgrounds in Schools
Inclusive Playgrounds in schools & community settings
Creating a sustainable intervention and inclusion plan
- Core principals to support children of all abilities playing side by side
- Language development in playgrounds
- Inclusive school playground design: case studies on school and early childhood playgrounds