This session, led by Dr Aaron Bradbury, focuses on nurturing children through a diverse lens, with a primary emphasis on LGBT+ inclusion in Early Years settings.
Aaron speaks about the importance of empathy, loving pedagogy, and age-appropriate representation as foundational tools for supporting all children, particularly those from LGBT+ families.
Key takeaways
- Audit the setting environment for inclusive representation:
Educators should physically view the environment from a child's height and perspective, assessing whether resources, books, and materials reflect diverse family structures. This is supported by evidence that children's early experiences shape who they are and that settings can unintentionally exclude children and families by failing to represent them. - Create safe spaces for staff CPD and dialogue on LGBT+ inclusion:
Leaders should establish structured opportunities for staff to ask questions, share experiences, and learn together without fear of judgement, drawing on resources such as the LGBTQ+ Early Years magazine. Aaron Bradbury noted that "knowledge is power" and that being informed supports practitioners to move forward proactively rather than reactively. - Reflect on unconscious bias and interactions with all families:
All staff should regularly reflect on whether they are providing equal levels of nurture, professional love, and welcoming interactions to every family, including same-sex couples. A parent's account highlighted that perceived differences in relational warmth — even without intentional discrimination — can lead families to question whether their child is being treated differently. - Introduce LGBTQ+-inclusive resources in an age-appropriate and considered way:
Settings should introduce books and materials featuring diverse family structures thoughtfully, preparing staff for children's questions and ensuring changes are gradual and communicated to families. Aaron Bradbury advised that it "isn't done tomorrow" and that "taking people with you is the key." - Engage parents and carers as active participants in the inclusion journey:
Settings should offer sessions for parents and carers so they feel included in the learning journey, helping to shift the ethos of the setting as a whole community. This approach ensures that any policy or ethos change is sustained and understood by all who join the setting. - Embed EDI (including LGBTQ+ inclusion) within governance, leadership, and curriculum planning:
Diversity and inclusion should be treated as a central, ongoing commitment rather than a tick-box exercise, with Ofsted now expecting to see how it frames the curriculum and partnerships with parents. Aaron Bradbury emphasised that "it has to be a shared vision" embedded throughout "the governance, the leadership, the ethos."
