Inclusion in the Early Years: Critical Analyses and Enabling Narratives

This book identifies and discusses key research studies of inclusion in the early years. Drawing on studies of practitioners′ views and experiences of working inclusively, authors Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Clough show how practices in a range of early years settings can be influenced by the attitudes and responses of practitioners. The authors demonstrate how discussion of inclusion need not be limited to issues affecting children with learning difficulties or impairment, but should address factors affecting all members of the learning community.

The book highlights elements which can make inclusion successful including curriculum and pedagogy, professional development, and work with parents. The authors review a number of international studies and present original research into practitioners′ attitudes and practices. Views of parents, children, and practitioners are also presented.

The book shows how working inclusively involves all members of the setting community in responsive and committed attitudes to each other. A key feature of the book is a number of original stories of how lives of practitioners, parents and children have been affected by inclusive and non-inclusive practices.

This is an essential text for all early years students, practitioners, and researchers who want to become familiar with current research into inclusion and to inform and develop their own inclusive practices.

Cathy Nutbrown is President of Early Education and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research over the last 30 years, has focussed on young children’s learning and work with parents to support young children’s literacy development.  She won an ESRC Award for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 150 publications including Early Literacy Work with Families (with Hannon and Morgan, Sage, 2005), Early Childhood Educational Research (Sage, 2019), and Home Learning Environments for Young Children (with Clough, Davies and Hannon, Sage, 2022).

Peter Clough is Professor of Education at the University of Brighton. Often using innovative, arts-based qualitative methodologies, his research is concerned particularly with the inclusion of marginalised voices, and spans all age phases. Among his many publications are Inclusion in the Early Years (Sage), and Narratives and Fictions in Educational Research (OUP). Recent research includes the Family Literacy in Prisons project in collaboration with the Prison Advice and Care Trust.