Te Aotūroa Tātaki—Inclusive Early Childhood Education

How do early childhood education settings become places where everyone involved is able to say they feel they belong? What kinds of questions about inclusion, social justice and equity might it be pertinent and productive to ask of contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood teachers and their practice? When, how and why might teachers intervene to address issues of injustice and exclusion that arise in the context of early childhood work? These are the kinds of questions addressed in this book, which grew out of a need for more information on inclusive early childhood education in this country.

This book addresses how practitioners and policy makers work for inclusion with diverse children and families. It focuses on the development of positive attitudes to difference, diversity and inclusion, and provides strategies for creating inclusive environments and quality teaching practices. The authors consider inclusion from the perspectives of age, sexualities, disability, gender, biculturalism, ethnicity and religion.

“For teachers and teacher educators, this book will enrich their understanding of Te Whāriki and stimulate meaningful dialogue about inclusion, as well as help them implement change.”

Anne Smith, Emeritus Professor, University of Otago College of Education