Early Years – the organisation for young children – is committed to giving children and young people the best start in life and working towards a shared society that respects diversity.
Early Years is core funded by the Community Relations Council.
Early Years’ Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) Respecting Difference Programme is an intervention programme aimed at improving long term outcomes so that children, practitioners/teachers, parents and communities become more aware of diversity and difference issues and positively change attitudes and behaviours to those who are different.
A specially commissioned article for CRC by Early Years.
Why engage with management and community with a “respecting difference” approach?
The importance of parents, community development, family support and a focus on quality provision have driven the work of Early Years – the organisation for young children – over the past 50 years.
The key purpose of the community development work of the organisation is to collectively bring about social change and justice, by working with communities to:
- Identify their needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities
- Plan, organise and take action
- Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the challenges, oppressions and tackle inequalities.
“Community development is directed at people who are excluded from society. It consists of methods which can broaden vision and capacity for social change. It is a way of working which encourages communities to tackle for themselves the problems which they face, and aims to empower them to change things by developing their skills, knowledge, experience and by working in partnership.” (Putman, 2005)
He suggests that social networks (social capital) within a community are extremely important and adds more value to a community. He argues that social capital is associated with better educational outcomes and better physical and mental health.
For a “respecting difference” programme to work it is essential that the management group fully supports and understands the approach. As part of the Media Initiative for Children programme delivered through funding from the Community Relations Council, workshops are provided to Management Committees and Board of Governors. This provides them with knowledge of the programme and skills necessary to understand and put in place key principles and practices of community development relating to a respecting difference approach, in services for their children through inclusive policy and practice.
The role of management in the Media Initiative for Children implementation:
- Are advocates of the MIFC Respecting Difference programme with Parents/Carers
- Provide support and supervision to staff
- Are advocates within the wider community
- Are available to support parents/carers and/or link with Early Years Specialist
- Attend feedback session at the end of the Early Years Specialist’s visit
- Plan for continuity, for example handover to new Management Committee Members
- Arrange repeat delivery of this workshop if there has been a substantial change in members of the Management Committee and build links with Inclusion EYS.
Read more about Early Years’ Respecting Difference Programme