This week, we would like to discuss the incredible work of two women who are leaders in creating a strong anti-racist culture in the Early Years.
We all want to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity, and we want children to grow up doing the same. Although it is well known that racism is against the law in the UK, many children still experience racism and prejudice in our society.
Being “othered” or seen as being, in some way, inferior to a more powerful group can be very damaging to a child’s development. Instead, promoting a feeling of belonging to family & friends and believing that we matter as part of society is essential for happiness in both children and adults. It’s never too early to start exploring the topics of race, diversity and inclusion.
Everyone in a nursery setting has a fantastic opportunity to work with children as soon as they explore their world and learn how it works. We need to help children develop empathy, curiosity and openness by introducing them to other aspects of life in age-appropriate ways. For example, children who have learned to celebrate differences in their Early Years setting will develop a sense of self-worth and tolerance before moving on to school and will grow up to become anti-racist, inclusive adults.
In support of our inclusion and anti-racism beliefs, we want to highlight the fantastic work of two incredible women, Liz Pemberton and Laura Henry-Allain, and their amazing influence in tackling this topic in an excellent, easily approachable way.
Liz Pemberton
Before the Covid lockdowns, Liz managed a large Early Years setting in Birmingham attended by many children of African-Caribbean heritage and she had previously worked as a qualified secondary school teacher.
Liz was very aware of the impact of racism in society, and under her guidance the nursery evolved into a hub for the community, providing culturally compatible support for children and their families. She developed teams of professionals to provide care within the framework of anti-racism: the 4 E’s.
- Embrace the racial, cultural and religious backgrounds of all children.
- Embed a culture of value and belonging amongst nursery practitioners and children.
- Ensure that practice is sensitive to culture and that we see the child as the expert regarding their identity.
- Extend the child’s learning opportunities by showing interest, discussing and using a wide range of resources.
Liz believes that the 4 E’s should be fostered in all Early Years settings and we think this is an incredible idea and are looking forward to seeing it implemented.
Laura Henry-Allain
Laura is an award-winning expert in Early Years education and children’s media, both in the UK and globally. Her career working with babies and young children spans thirty years and has seen her in roles including Ofsted inspector, teacher, nursery manager and curriculum manager. In addition to that, she has shared her expertise with the Department for Education, providing advice on policy and strategy decisions.
Laura is a regular contributor to Nursery World and is the author of the much-loved JoJo & GranGran books, now also a popular CBeebies series. She has also written My Skin, Your Skin, an amazing book that supports parents, carers and professionals in explaining racism, why it is wrong and what to do should they encounter it. This empowers all children to celebrate their achievements and value themselves, whatever their skin colour.
Laura is a total inspiration to follow if you want to go further with the anti-racism challenge this 2022.
A final thought
Early Years settings are the perfect place to encourage positive multiculturalism and create an anti-racist culture.
Most nurseries use books and stories from all over the world, encourage celebrations of different religious festivals, and support learning additional languages, but simply celebrating differences and diversity is not enough.
We must consider following and elevating the work done by women leaders like Liz and Laura.
We also need to assume an anti-racist approach in learning & development within the sector and support positive thinking about inclusion. Racial and cultural differences should be recognised, discussed and valued.
Finally, we should start thinking about addressing racism and challenge it so that children grow up as members of a society where everyone is valued and feel they belong… where children can thrive with joy and achieve their full potential.