Being a Professional in Early Childhood: Inclusive Practice Essay

This essay delves into the concept of inclusive practice within early childhood education, specifically examining its implementation in Roehampton, UK. It explores the roles and responsibilities of professionals such as educators, healthcare specialists, and social care experts in fostering an environment of equality and opportunity for young children. The essay highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the diverse needs of children, families, and communities, emphasizing the impact of inclusive practices on child development and well-being. It also examines the collaborative efforts of local authorities, such as the Wandsworth London Borough Council, in providing services and promoting inclusive education, including special education provisions and mental health support. The essay underscores the significance of the UK's legislative framework in advancing diversity and equality, and it discusses the methods used by educational and support services to ensure children and families are viewed and prioritized in a way that promotes their development and well-being.

Running head: BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE
PRACTICE
BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
Inclusive practice is the approach of teaching that realizes the diversity in people and
enables them to participate in learning activities irrespective of their diversification. Through this
practice, every individual, be it young children, students or adults is given an access to course
contents and are guided to demonstrate their acquired knowledge and strengths. The process
helps to enhance the learning experience of people and helps them to change their attitudes and
behaviors to promote their development as a whole (Yan & Sin, 2014). These practices try to
identify the needs and interests of the people, especially the young children to foster their
learning processes and development. The chief notion of the inclusive practices is to ensure
equality of opportunities for the people and render the highest achievement for the children. The
UK Government has been initiating and funding various organizations and authorities to render
free education and other essential services, focusing mainly the young children so that they are
not differentiated and are given equal opportunities to prosper in life. Along with all the other
parts of the country, various authorities have been integrating inclusive practices in Roehampton
to promote welfare and equal opportunities to the people of the region that has been discussed in
the essay.
The professionals who are working with the children can be divided broadly into three
categories. These are the health professionals, the social welfare workers and the educators who
work with the children in their early life. In this part of the country there is an emphasis on the
growth of the children’s mind in a holistic and comprehensive manner giving them the chance to
develop and grow in their fullest potential. The children in their early years are deeply influenced
by philosophies and teachings that they come across. Therefore the childcare professionals are to
be at their best in giving the children the healthiest environment to achieve the targeted
knowledge accumulation. Treating the children equally is one of the pillars of childcare in early

2BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
life, however this does not mean to not recognize the different needs of the different children,
and this actually signifies that the individual child will be given the amount of attention needed.
Accepting people as they are and treating them with no differences serve to be the underlying
motive in the operational inclusive practices (Florian & Spratt, 2013). This helps children to
identify themselves as an integral part of the society, valuing own self and making efforts to
attain a prosperous and happy life. They thus, initiate all the necessary methods and programs,
respecting varying beliefs and cultures of people to promote equal opportunities for them without
any differences.
People varying in cultures, ethnicity, social background and languages form the
population of Roehampton, a suburban district in southwest London. Due to the leading global
concern of equal treatment to people, a number or local authorities and services have been
shaping up in the different localities all over the nation to aid the social cause (Wingate, 2015).
In Roehampton, the famous Roehampton University there are dedicated courses for early
childcare and childhood studies (University of Roehampton, 2018). They have a special
provision that relates to the basic childcare and education program. The early childhood
education that the university provides aim to guide the intrinsic creativity of the children
(Cheminais, 2013). The childcare education program of the University is supported by the
“Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies”. The students who graduate with this course leaves the
university with a great knowledge of early childhood care and education. This has helped the
local area to be filled with professionals in childcare. This has an overall impact on the quality of
childcare in Roehampton. The three categories of professionals required for this field as already
mentioned are, healthcare specialist, social care experts and early childhood educators. The
training at the university mainly focuses on the educators and social care experts among these

3BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
three groupd of professionals in early childhood care. The various categories which are focused
in this course are “Working with under 3s”, “Working with 3-8 year olds”, “Working with
Children and families”, and “Working for children and families”. To be a professional in the
early childhood care the professionals have to be expert in dealing with not only the children but
also with their family members and the community. This requires them to be proficient in
sociological and psychological theories. Often there are conflicts and struggles in the family that
may hamper the healthy upbringing of the child in a way that will help him or her realize their
fullest potential. However the childcare professionals are expected and required to help the
children in growing up in a harmonious environment. That may require the professionals to have
conversation and counseling sessions with the family members of the young children so that the
problems may be resolved.
The important question to address in this regard is What is inclusive practice and how
does it promote equality of opportunity? Since any association or foundation, including
Neighborhood Authorities, medical caregivers and organisations, instructive foundations, the
police benefit, deliberate associations and working environments, that supports and promotes
consideration illustrates that it esteems everything about the general population required inside it.
Inclusivity sustains a feeling of prosperity and of trust in ones claim personality and capacities.
And it guarantees that everybody can accomplish their potential and assume their legitimate
position in the public arena. Research has demonstrated that specific components diminish the
probability of building up a feeling of having a place and living an upbeat and beneficial life.
There are two types of segregation, immediate and indirect. Coordinate segregation happens
when somebody is purposefully treated unjustifiably, for instance provocation based on skin
color or belief and faith. Backhanded segregation happens when principles or rules intended to

4BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
apply to everybody accidentally influence one gathering of individuals more than others. For
instance, an organization arrangement requiring everybody to work night moves in a roundabout
way victimizes single individuals who administer to elderly relatives, and menus that fall flat to
offer a choice of nourishment in a roundabout way is biased against individuals with particular
dietary needs or inclinations. Inclusive practice is about the states of mind, approaches and
systems taken to guarantee that individuals are most certainly not rejected or segregated. It
implies supporting diversity by tolerating and respecting individuals' disparities, and advancing
equality by guaranteeing square with open doors for all. Inclusive practice is best practice.
Wellbeing and social care specialists show inclusive practice by working in ways that perceive,
regard, esteem and make the most of all parts of diversity. Having a sound familiarity with and
reacting delicately to a person's assorted needs supports them in building up a feeling of having a
place, prosperity and certainty in their personality and capacities. And it causes them to
accomplish their potential and assume their legitimate position in the public arena. Inclusive
practice includes having an understanding of the tragic effect that separation, inequality and
social prohibition can have on a person's physical and psychological well-being. Having such an
understanding guarantees proper, customized care and support, in this way empowering a person
to create selfrespect and keep up an esteemed part in the public arena. Since individuals who
neglect to help diversity or advance equality are generally altogether unconscious of their
mentalities and the effect of their conduct, inclusive practice includes reflecting on and testing
ones claim preferences, practices and work practices. It additionally includes testing those of
partners and other administration suppliers, with a view to adjusting methods for considering and
working and to changing administrations to expand on great practice and to better help diversity
and advance equality. Segregation is a bad form and has decimating impacts. The UK has set up

5BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
various bits of enactment (laws), rules, controls, direction records and statutory codes of practice,
all of which are proposed to advance diversity, guarantee equality and end separation. As it were
they are set up to advance everybody's entitlement to reasonable and approach treatment, paying
little mind to their contrasts.
The next question that may be raised is How are the services in this locality working
together and promoting inclusive practice? Apart from the University, there are multiple
numbers of local authorities functioning in the various parts of the United Kingdom making
efforts to reduce discrimination and any kind of disadvantages that presently prevails in the
childcare scenario of the area (Hatton, 2013). In Greater London England, the most popular local
authority Wandsworth London Borough Council works for the welfare of the children and
people (Gov.uk, 2018). Roehampton forms the western end of the London Borough of
Wandsworth. The Wandsworth council thus, promotes welfare to the young children and their
families of Roehampton along with multiple other places for better living and secured future of
the people. Children in England are entitled to have free and quality education following their
third birthday (Bradshaw, 2016). The Wandsworth council school, also known as the maintained
school provides basic education to the young children of the locality. Children who have moved
to England and lack citizenship of the country are also entitled to get the free education.
Inclusiveness is the main objective of all the authorities and everyone works towards a better and
inclusive service scenario.
How does the children and families are viewed by these services and what is prioritized
for them can be discussed in this section, The one particular children service to be discussed in
this regard is the role of educators in the early childhood of the children. This implies mainly to
the primary teachers and the playgroup mentors. These professionals also have to be

6BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
knowledgeable about social issue as already mentioned. These professionals work in the primary
schools and the daycare and children centers and also serve as “nannies” visiting the home of the
children. What is required for this profession is high level of patience, and perseverance. It is
imperative for the child care professionals to know the psychological dimensions of the children
in order to deal with them in an ideal way. The Children centres indulge in inclusive practices
focusing on helping children with proper health and learning. They are nurtured to mix freely
with others and relish high quality play. They also provide aid to those children who have family
problems and incorporate sessions with parents to develop the child. The various children centre
supports children to perform better when they attain school in the later stage. The council has a
provision for special education for the children as well and is involved in the preparations and
implementation of the Special Education Needs and Development (SEND) Reforms. The SEND
reform is a very crucial aspect of the UK government that lies in part 3 of the Children and
Families Act 2014. The local authorities of Roehampton send children to the schools under the
Wandsworth council that has seven special schools and is collaborated with twelve other
mainstream schools. These schools provide aids to children having moderate learning
difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, problems in language and communication, speech and
hearing disorders and such other issues.
The ACCESS Child and Youth Mental Health Service help children and young people up
to the age of 18 years that aids the people of Roehampton as well (Fis.wandsworth.gov.uk,
2018). The service is for those who are suffering from mental disorders and helps the young
generation to improve their emotional well-being. Through conversations with the child and their
families, the authority tries to detect the psychological problems and distress that the person is
suffering from (Peer & Reid, 2016). With efficient mental health professionals, they help the

7BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
person to stabilize the mental condition and regain their normal life. The CAMHS Team also
helps people suffering from mental illnesses including efficient child and adolescent
psychiatrists, systematic family therapists, clinical doctors and others.
Wandsworth’s Family Information Service (FIS) is a free resource for young people with
special need and serious disabilities. FIS provide education family support and other helps to the
families who have children from 0-19 years in Roehampton and provide the services for 25
years. St. George’s University Hospitals under the NHS Foundation Trust serves to more than
1.3 million people across the South-west London (Stgeorges.nhs.uk, 2018). It renders a large
number of services including cardio, medicine, neuroscience surgery and many others. St.
George’s Hospitals has a full range of community services to patients of all ages and all
communities. Thus, it accounts to inclusive practices with the connotation of equal treatment to
the people coming here.
The Youth Support Services also aid to the children from 0-19 years and even up to the
age of 25 when there are learning difficulties observed in the people (Jones et al., 2014). Out of
the 11 youth clubs operating in Borough, Roehampton also has the aid of it. Through their
Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) program, these clubs try to help the young
generation who are facing difficulties such as dropping out of school, getting indulged in
criminal activities and such others. The services are delivered in areas covering entire
Wandsworth and have an area office at Roehampton to look into their proper functioning.
The professionals who are engaged in early childhood teaching service are expected to
perform a variety of roles. In this age the role of the early childhood educator is more of a guide
rather than being a teacher who just imparts academic knowledge to the children. A guide is

8BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
expected to train the children in an all pervading and overall manner instead of focusing on just
the academic aspect of learning. The guide is also expected to protect the children from any form
of physical or mental harm, therefore the role is also of a protector apart from being the ideal
guide. The early childhood educators are expected to explore the interests of the children and
judge on their ability to perform various co-curricular activities apart from the more serious
academic ventures. The educator is also expected to keep on learning himself or herself
throughout the process and enhance the skills to understand the psyche of the students in a better
way. The experiences must be shared with the children who must feel that the learning
experience is shared. The early childhood educators and care givers are expected to make the
students go through the learning process in an interactive learning environment where the
process of learning is not only informative but also interesting in the early childhood it is very
important the children find the learning process interesting. This will help them in broadening
their perspectives and developing their IQ. Various props and materials can be used in order to
support the learning process of the children in their early childhood. These can be toys or any
other interesting and colorful props including books, graphical leaflets and posters.
The educators throughout their working hours have to communicate with a wide variety
of people related to the children including “parents, children, support staff, the general public,
and administrators”. Therefore it is essential and imperative for these professionals to be great
communicators. They must also be experts in understanding the psychology of these people in
order to effectively communicate with them. The educators must be prepared for management
functions and official responsibilities such as “Paperwork, lesson planning, preparing materials,
classroom management, people management, problem solving and critical resolution of issues”.
It is even tougher to manage a classroom than to manage an office of grown up people. The pre-

9BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
schools in today’s times have to follow strict governmental rules and regulations so that
maximum care of the children can be taken in a comprehensive manner. The early year
childhood professionals have to be aware about the intricacies of the governmental and
administrative regulations about the field. The early childhood teachers and educators are most
of the time working with young children who are 3 to 5 years old. This is the most complicated
age for teaching the children, as they are at their very beginning stage of acquiring knowledge
and any wrong method would be leaving lasting impact in their minds. The environment must be
kept very safe and conducive for learning. The safety issue is applied to even the smallest
matters such as the toys with which the children will play. In Roehampton pre-schools and
childcare centers these aspects are strictly taken care of and the childcare courses at the above
mentioned University prepare the educators in all the above mentioned aspects.
Apart from the individual educators the government authorities are also extending their
support to help the children to develop in their early life learning. The primary focus of all the
authorities operating in the district of Roehampton is to provide equal opportunities to the
children along with their families to have a happy living. They work with the chief motive to set
a fair society by providing equal opportunities to the people of the community and treating them
equally as compared to the other inhabitants of the society (Adams & Bell, 2016). The
authorities strive to protect them from social hazards such as sexual violence, domestic violence,
exploitation, lack of medical treatments and other aspects that harm the people drastically. The
early life educators along with the authorities in tandem try to bring them to the positive light of
life helping them to stay protected from over consumption of alcohol, drugs and engagement in
ill activities. They view each child to be precious and equal to one another and aim to provide
them with sufficient educational and health facilities so that they grow up to have a proper

10BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
livelihood. They try to deal individually with the people and the children and strive to work in
consultation and collaboration with the families (O'Loughlin & O'Loughlin, 2016). The early life
educators view every individual to be productive and equally efficient treating whom equally
renders opportunity for them to fulfill their potential. They not only aim to provide equal
opportunity by eradicating discrimination on grounds of sexuality, religion, race or disability but
also try to identify their needs and aspirations. This enables the people along with the younger
generation to invest their energies in a productive way. Viewing each individual to be as
important as others, the early childhood educators must be in constant engagement to initiate and
integrate methods in order to promote equality and diversity in the services that they could
provide to the young people. Thus, all the services are rendered prioritizing the value of each life
and providing wellbeing of all the young children that ultimately indicates a progressive and
developed society.

11BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
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Bradshaw, J. ed., (2016). The Well-being of Children in the UK. Policy Press.
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Clarkson, P.J., Coleman, R., Keates, S. and Lebbon, C., (2013). Inclusive design: Design for the
whole population. Springer Science & Business Media.
Davies, E.A. and Jones, A.C., (2013). Risk factors in child sexual abuse. Journal of forensic and
legal medicine, 20(3), pp.146-150.
Fis.wandsworth.gov.uk. (2018). ACCESS Child and Youth Mental Health Service | Wandsworth
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