The main aim:

EDeNn supports organisations, trainers and practitioners to work collectively towards the inclusion of an equality and diversity approach as a core element in ECCE training and practice.

 

We aim to achieve this by:

• Actively promoting the inclusion of an equality and diversity approach in ECCE
• Facilitating the sharing of information amongst organisations, trainers and policy makers
• Building on and complementing existing initiatives and ‘best practice’
• Exploring possibilities to develop initiatives between research, training and practice
• Developing responses to national policy.

The Network consists of 15 founding members all of whom are focused on the area of equality and diversity within the Early Years Sector. The Network has worked together to promote and initiate research on the Family Wall, Host seminars and their first conference and support policy development. The Network also provides a beneficial space for the Diversity and Equality Trainers to discuss issues, pool ideas and reflect on diversity and equality training they have delivered.

 

Family Wall Research Project

EDeNn initiated a national research project ‘The Family Wall’ findings of which will be published in 2012. The aim of the Family Wall is to support each child’s individual and group identity within the setting addressing diversity in a pro-active and positive manner. The building of the Family Wall can take many forms and all involved in the project developed spaces which were accessible to the children both visually and physically. Practitioners have found the Family Wall exciting and challenging but also very rewarding showing multifaceted results.

As it is about actively connection with families while at the same time reinforcing the child’s feeling of warmth and security in the settings practitioners without exception practitioners regard it now as an integral part of their work with children. The children see that while each family’s way of life is different it is recognised and respected, regardless of background, family structure or culture (group identity). At the same time each child is supported in building their positive image of themselves (individual identity). Through actively engaging with the Wall challenging issues have also presented which has given the practitioners an opportunity to engage with the children in addressing preconceived ideas or concerns around diversity. The findings will be published supported by the voices of the practitioners engaged in the project.