EENET has published 2 training videos focusing on inclusive early childhood education.

In 2017, EENET released a video-based teacher training resource: “An Inclusive Day: Building foundations for learner-centred, inclusive education”. The package consists of 10 short videos with training manuals. The resource contains lots of ideas for low-cost and no-cost ways for teachers to make their schools and classrooms more inclusive. Many of the ideas are relevant for teachers working at any level, from pre-school to adult education. However, we wanted to make an accompanying resource that focuses more specifically on supporting educators to be inclusive in early years settings.

The new video set is called Inclusive Beginnings.

The 2 new videos, with accompanying workshop manuals, look at:

  • Inclusive Practice: inclusive teaching and learning in early childhood education settings;
  • Inclusive Transition: the changes learners experience when moving to, from, and within early childhood education.

In 2022 we also published some online training courses based on the videos, for education practitioners and managers.

The importance of inclusive early childhood education

Children are learners, from the moment they are born. They learn a huge range of social, emotional, cognitive, communication and physical skills within the first few years of life. They are supported in this learning by parents, siblings, family members, peers, and others in the community.

The foundations for learning that are laid in these early years can have a big impact on later learning, and on children’s interest in learning. It is therefore increasingly recognised that early childhood education – both within formal education settings and in informal settings such as the home and community – needs to be given more attention globally to ensure all children receive appropriate support with learning during the crucial early years. In turn, this means there needs to be more focus on ensuring early childhood education is inclusive, high quality and contextually relevant for all young learners, regardless of their gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, family / social status, and so on.