Six Steps to Inclusion
These short reflective resources have been developed to support early years teams to think about inclusive practice together. Each session uses the Six Steps to Inclusion – Focus, Notice, Think, Adapt, Reflect and Next – to explore one aspect of practice, challenge assumptions and identify a small change that could make a difference for children.
How to Use Six Steps to Inclusion
A short guide explaining the Six Steps approach and how teams can use the resources for focussed reflection, discussion and small changes to everyday inclusive practice.
Are We Assuming They Can’t? – Low Expectations
A reflective session exploring expectations, assumptions and over-helping, encouraging practitioners to start with children’s strengths and create opportunities for them to participate, learn and make progress.
Is the Environment the Barrier? – The Environment
A practical reflection on how routines, spaces, sensory demands and everyday expectations can create barriers, and what could be changed to make the environment work better for children.
Are We Responding or Reacting? – Adult Responses
A reflective session encouraging practitioners to look beyond behaviour, consider what children may be communicating and think about how connection, regulation and adult responses influence what happens next.
Are We Making Ourselves Understood? – Communication
A practical look at communication as an inclusion issue, including adult language, processing time, visuals, gesture, modelling and recognising the different ways children communicate.
Are We Really Listening? – Parent Partnership
A reflective session exploring how we listen and respond to families, recognise parents’ knowledge of their child and make their concerns and observations a meaningful part of inclusive practice.
Present Isn’t the Same as Included – Participation
A session exploring the difference between being present and genuinely participating, with a focus on adult support, access, independence and belonging across the child’s day.