Inclusive Education in the Early Years is an essential resource that will help you to critically understand and actively engage with a rights-based approach to including all children in education.

This new edition explains the importance of changing early years practices, language and mindsets, encouraging and supporting teachers to develop skills, knowledge and confidence in creating inclusive early years learning environments.

Key Features

• Builds on current research and engages with the field of Disability Studies in Education.
• All new case studies of personal accounts from children, parents and teachers, which highlight the steps to inclusion.
• The Critical Reflection questions and activities help you reflect on your current practice and consider how to improve or develop a skill.
• The end of chapter For Further Reflection exercises encourage you to think about key themes of the book and ignite further discussion.

New chapters in this edition cover the following key topics:

• approaches to developing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and respectfully incorporating languages, culture, knowledge, and histories within everyday practice (Chapter 9 Including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives)
• addressing inequality and privilege (Chapter 10, Navigating Social Class and Inequality) children’s perspectives of inclusion and exclusion revealed through storying the exploration of everyday lived experiences (Chapter 2 Children as Changemakers)
• highlighting the benefits of mindsets and strategies aligned with equity and inclusivity compared to the problems of ableist practices in schools (Chapter 3 Chronicles of “Inclusion”: Reflections on Graduation Day)
• identifying and challenging barriers to inclusion in early years practice (Chapter 13 Challenging barriers to inclusion in early years practice – one small step after another)
• taking a trauma-informed approach to understanding and responding to behaviour (Chapter 17 Social and Emotional Wellbeing in a Turbulent world)
• addressing diversity through children's literature (Chapter 18 Children’s literature as a tool for inclusion) inclusion and exclusion in popular culture (Chapter 19 Representations of diversity in children’s popular media)
• the importance of clear communication as central to inclusion and effective partnerships (Chapter 20 Communication Matters)
• working with teacher's aides to facilitate inclusion (Chapter 23 Working betwixt and between ableist and equitable education: The role of Additional Educators

About the Authors

Kathy Cologon is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Inclusive Education at Macquarie University. Zinnia Mevawalla is a Lecturer in Early Years Education at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.