Training and Professional Development in ECCE Diversity, Equality and Inclusion The ‘éist’ Project: June 2006 Colette Murray

Context and Rationale Pavee Point and the ‘éist’ Project Possibilities and Challenges What Approach? Sectoral Needs And Evolving Policy

Consultation ‘éist’ Document 2000 ‘éist’ project Awareness Development Piloting Evaluation Advocacy and Policy ‘Ar an mBealach’ Training of trainers in Mayo 2005 Masters in equality studies 2005 A Vision Shared 2006 Next Steps Action for change Traveller Child and broader diversity issues Respect Conference 1998 DECET European Network

 Who has Diversity and was it always here?  Changes in demographics  Training > content>training of trainers>shared vision  Over focus on culture ?  Trying to fit the unfamiliar into a familiar framework

 Who knows what the needs are?  Anecdotally what do we know?  Accurate information  Terminology and understanding concepts  Overcoming fragmentation

 International Instruments Universal Declaration of Human Rights United Nations (1948);  The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969) (UNCERD);  The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989);  UNESCO Declaration on Education (1990)  National Legislation Education Act (1998);  Equal Status Legislation ( );  Employment Equality Act ( );

 National Children's Strategy (2000)  National Childcare Strategy (1999)  White Paper Early Childhood Education (1999)  OECD Thematic Review 2004  NESF Report  Planning for Diversity(2005) The National Action Plan Against Racism  Forthcoming Traveller Education Strategy (2006)

 Early childhood professionals can make a difference to how and what young children learn  Discrimination and its effects in young children’s lives is not inevitable, but it is likely if there is no effective, long-term intervention in the early years that support early childhood staff to own and want change.

European Network (links now to networking Morocco and Eastern Europe) Holland UK Scotland Belgium France Germany Spain Ireland Pavee Point: Associate member Cork Anti-Bias Network