Early Childhood Education and Care: Early Childhood Blog

Quick Guide to Diversity and Inclusion

Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Environment for Students is Simple With These Handy Tips.

Inclusive Language 

It's important to use acceptable language to make sure all feel accepted. 

• When it comes to disability, the best practice is to use 'person with a disability' or 'people with disability'. This guide to terminology will help educators and students to choose the right words and phrases. 
• With gender and sexual diversity, language needs to convey gender equality and is gender-neutral. This style manual, by the Australian Government, will help in respecting gender preferences and sexual identity with pronouns, job titles and personal titles.
• For First Nations Australians, culturally appropriate and respectful language is a must for communication. Use this style manual, by the Australian Government as a guide for inclusive language. 
• Australia's population is made up of many different cultural backgrounds and many languages are spoken here. Respecting that diversity means using inclusive language. This style manual is a great guide for effective communication.
• For specific information regarding inclusive language in Tasmanian schools, please use this handy guide

Inclusion in Sport

All children should feel safe and included when participating in sporting activities. 

• The 7 Pillars of Inclusion Framework is a great way to achieve best practices when it comes to inclusion in sporting activities
• The Inclusive Sport in Schools program from Special Olympics Australia supports students with an intellectual disability and autism to be involved with sport and physical activity in a school setting. 

Diverse Classrooms and Inclusion in Learning

The Tasmanian Department of Education has resources to help facilitate diversity and inclusion in classrooms.

• Culturally and linguistically diverse English language learners and their families are supported through quality teaching and learning practices, with the DoE implementing a new EAL Support Model. 
• All students with a disability are supported to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of Tasmanian school life
• There are also DoE guidelines outlining best practices for supporting sexual and gender diversity in schools

Some other great links for creating a diverse and inclusive classroom

• NSW Government Teaching Strategies - Supporting students with difficulties in learning
• Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited: Spotlight on Inclusive education - Teaching students with a disability
• Safe Schools Guide from the Victorian State Government
• Australian Curriculum: Meeting the needs of students for whom English is an additional language or dialect
• Disability Standards for Education from the Australian Government

Library Resources

Check out our Diversity page on the TasTAFE Library Website

EBOOK: a - Z of Inclusion in Early Childhood by Mary Dickins

ISBN: 9780335246793

Publication Date: 2014-01-01

The concept of inclusion is complex and messy and although many definitions abound it has never been fully clarified in legislation and guidance. The purpose of this book is to consider how professionals working with young children and their families can better understand the concept of inclusion and successfully establish, examine and evaluate the building blocks and framework that should underpin inclusive practice. 

 

Spotlight on Young Children: Equity and Diversity by Cristina Gillanders (Editor); Rossella Procopio (Editor)

Call no: 372 SPO (Clarence Campus)

ISBN: 9781938113413

Publication Date: 2019-04-16

A collection of articles from Young Children, NAEYC's award-winning journal. Tied to the forthcoming NAEYC new position statement on equity and diversity, this book includes practical ways teachers can advance equity as they plan learning experiences. Provides tools and guidance educators can use to recognize implicit bias and learn how to develop strategies that create equitable learning opportunities for all children.

EBOOK: Supporting Gender Diversity in Early Childhood Classrooms by Julie Nicholson; Julia Hennock; Jonathan Julian; Cyndi Maurer; Nathanael Flynn; Encian Pastel; Katie Steele; Tess Unger

ISBN: 9781784509149

Publication Date: 2019-10-21

By offering practical steps for adults who work with young children to build inclusive and intentional spaces where all children receive positive messages about their unique gender selves, this book increases awareness about gender diversity in learning environments such as child care centres, family child care homes and preschools. The book is based on some of the most progressive, modern understandings of gender and intersectionality, as well as research on child development, gender health, trauma informed practices and the science of adult learning.

 

Disability and Inclusion in Early Years Education by Chris Collett (Editor)

Call Number: 371.9 DIS (Clarence Campus)

ISBN: 9781138638280

Publication Date: 2017-08-31

Disability and Inclusion in Early Years Education supports practitioners in understanding and implementing inclusive practice relating to disability in early years education. 

Diversity in the Early Years by Ann Farrell; Ingrid Sameulsson

Call Number: Alanvale & Clarence Campus

ISBN: 0195593944

Publication Date: 2016-08-01

Diversity in the Early Years examines young children in global contexts and the affordances of intercultural approaches to diversity and inclusion in early childhood education. This book provides a starting point for developing intercultural understandings, based on respect for diversity and interdependency in the everyday experience.