Services and educators are confident and ready to support all children’s active participation in early learning programs and embed inclusive practices.
The department's
inclusive education policy supports a shared vision to provide opportunities for every child, while meeting the needs of families and communities with a range of services.
Early years services work in partnership with families and other professionals to share perspectives, understand and celebrate different ways of being to deliver an inclusive, child-centred approach to improve outcomes for all children.
Through our interactions, programming and partnerships, we demonstrate our commitment to high expectations for all children, equity in decisions and actions and respect for diversity. The
Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) guides curriculum decisions during the first 5 years of children's education and care. Cultural knowledge and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are embedded into kindergarten learning programs through the
Queensland kindergarten learning guideline (QKLG) and
Foundations for Success.
Being an inclusion-ready service means that children and families across Queensland, from all social, cultural, community and family backgrounds, and of all identities and all abilities are able to:
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be welcomed at their local kindergarten or early years service
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learn together in a safe and supportive environment that celebrates diversity
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engage in culturally responsive, differentiated learning through evidence-based activities and tailored programs that meet their learning and developmental needs
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grow and develop and enjoy positive transitions from home to early learning, kindergarten and to school.
Resources
ACECQA
A range of resources to support services and families. View the video on
Inclusion and
Articulating your inclusive practices .
Birdie's Tree
Developed by Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health helps educators and staff working in early childhood education and care to support young children and families who've been through a natural disaster. The curriculum is available through a package of centre-wide training, resources and support.
Australian Childhood Foundation
An extensive range of downloadable resources to support your work with children and families including
Family suitcases and
Susan and the memory blanket.
Funding to support disability and complex additional needs
Learn about funding and support programs to assist with the inclusion of children with disability.
Foundations for Success
Resources and guidelines to support the quality inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the kindergarten year.
Ready Together
Culturally enriched guidance on early learning and development. These guiding tools and resources help to ensure the delivery of quality, evidence-based approaches in and across all early years services and kindergartens. More information is available in the
How much do you know about babies’ brain development? article.
Early Years Connect
Resources to help educators support children with disability and complex additional needs to participate in early childhood education and care services. The program consists of information sheets, recorded webinars on inclusion topics and online learning modules.
Early Years health and development portal
Offers a series of self-paced training courses, videos and links to resources to enhance knowledge and skills in children's health, development and wellbeing. The portal offers insight into diverse learning needs, conditions of wellbeing and complex challenges faced by the young children in our care. It offers evidence-based professional tools and strategies for improving practice across a diverse range of settings.
Sally and Possum
Australia's first educational television show for young deaf and hard of hearing learners who use Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as their primary means of communication. The accompanying teacher and educator resource package is designed to guide teaching and learning opportunities in the early years and aligns with the Australian Curriculum and Queensland kindergarten learning guideline.
Supportive transition pathways are in place for all children and families across early childhood programs and services.
Whether a child's early learning journey begins at an occasional care service, long day care centre, kindergarten or school, their transition to, between and through the early years can be exciting, important and sometimes overwhelming.
In making the moves, most families and children will find themselves adapting to change, adjusting to new routines and seeking to understand new people, environments and expectations. This process of adaptation is called transition and spans the time between planning to move into the new setting and when a sense of belonging as an established and connected member of the new community is achieved.
By strengthening transition pathways in the early years for all children and families during this time, we ensure everyone benefits.
Review the making the move to an
early years setting,
kindergarten or
school information on the
transition in the early years pages.
Partnerships across communities support all children’s learning, wellbeing, development and successful transition.
Everyone has a role to play in facilitating partnerships and supporting stronger, more connected communities. Children and families who are part of connected communities experience a greater sense of belonging, positive identity and cultural wellbeing. Similarly, when services and professionals collaborate effectively and work in a community-minded way, they are able to develop more precise and successful solutions.
Early years services work in partnership with families, cross agency colleagues, schools and education services, allied health professionals, elders, communities and other professionals to share perspectives and understand and celebrate different ways of being to deliver an inclusive child-centred approach to improve outcomes for all children.
Resources
Early Years Places
These are 'one-stop shops' where families can access multiple services or referrals to specialist services for their children and themselves. They support families with children aged from birth to 8 years of age and respond to the changing needs of local communities. Early Years Places proactively connect with local networks wherever practical, including local kindergarten services.
Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) (PDF, 3.4MB)
A departmental program provided to support children from birth to 5 years with significant educational support needs arising from diagnosed or suspected disability. ECDPs aim to support children's early learning and help develop valuable skills children need to be successful learners now and as they transition into school.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI)
For children with a disability or developmental delay under the age of 7 years. Children do not require a diagnosis to access NDIS ECEI services and supports. The NDIS ECEI community partners provide information and advice about supports and services available in your local community, can work with children to provide short-term early intervention supports, and help families access an NDIS plan for their child.
Autism Hub
Provides information and delivers professional learning that supports educators to include, retain and engage children with autism.