Having Cultural Awareness Implies That Practioners Will Be Conversant With ...
Having cultural awareness implies that practioners will be conversant with the religious observances and dietary requirements of different cultures. It also needs an ability to deal with language problems that children might encounter. While all children and adults may identify with different racial or gendered groups children need to experience positive attitudes towards those who may be different to themselves. Conclusion Quality in early years provision is a necessary but debated area, what defines quality? It is the argument of this paper that one of the most import factors that contribute to quality in early years provision, is properly trained professionals. Again, what constitutes proper training is an arguable concept but the elements that are critical in training those who wish to work in the early years sector are those that have been in evidence since Piaget onwards, that is practitioners need training in child-centred learning. Piaget also argued that all of a child's relationships and interactions influence his/her development and that playing with others is especially important. It certainly seems clear that it is essential that early years training should be developmental and centred on how a child learns. Stepping stones to becoming a fully trained and professional practitioner seem to me to be an effective method of training. This is a method that ensures the vital elements of play, role modelling, and inclusive practice are embedded in early years training. 2500 words Bibliography Anning et al 2004 Early Childhood Education London, Sage Anning, A. and Edwards, A. 1999 Promoting Children's Learning From Birth to Five Buckingham, Open University Press. Anning, A.1997 First Years at School Buckingham, Open University Press Bruce, T. and Meggit, C. 1991 Childcare and Education London, Hodder and Stoughton House of Commons Public Accounts Committee 2004 Early Years: Progress in Developing High Quality Childcare and Early Education Accessible to All http://www.pre-school.org http://www.underfives.co.uk/eyed.html MacNaughton, G. 2004 Exploring critical constructivist perspectives on children's learning in Malaguzzi 1993 For an education based on relationships Young Children November 9-13 Milner 1983 Children and Race 10 years on London, Ward Lock Educational Moyles et al 2001 Statements of Entitlement to Play: A Framework for Playful Teaching Buckingham, Open University Press Saracho et al 2002 Contemporary Perspectives on Early Childhood Teaching Greenwich CT, Information Age Publishing Siraj-Blatchford 2002 Siraj-Blatchford, 1996 Why understanding cultural differences is not enough in Pugh, G. ed 1996 Contemporary Issues in the Early Years London, Keegan and Paul Siraj-Blatchford and Siraj-Blatchford 2001 An ethnographic approach to researching young children's learning in Macnaughton, G.
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