An inclusive preschool classroom scene featuring a teacher instructing a group of children, one of whom is in a wheelchair.

Inclusive Practices

Dos and Don’ts of Fostering an Inclusive Preschool Culture

Create an environment that supports children with different abilities through effective early intervention support.

ABOUT OUR EXPERT

JANICE LEONG

Ms Leong is an ECDA Fellow and Deputy Director (Early Intervention Services) at Rainbow Centre.

The expansion of early intervention (EI) services — such as Development Support-Plus (DS-Plus) and the Development Support and Learning Support Programme (DS-LS) — has enhanced the accessibility of EI support for children with developmental needs in early childhood (EC) settings. This expansion has enabled our preschools to be more inclusive.

Ms Janice Leong, an ECDA Fellow and EI leader, shares some dos and don’ts when fostering inclusive practices in the preschool classroom.

HOW CAN I FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE PRESCHOOL CULTURE?

An illustration displaying the key dos for educators on fostering an inclusive preschool culture.

An illustration displaying the key don’ts for educators on fostering an inclusive preschool culture.

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE?

Observe each child to understand them better. It is important to remember that children with developmental needs have individual characteristics and challenges.
Set aside time for lesson planning. Discuss insights and strategies with EI professionals. Teamwork ensures more robust, tailored and consistent support for the child.
Recognise that EI educators may not have all the answers. EC and EI educators should discuss what is practical in the classroom context. For example, strategies used in one-to-one EI sessions may not be applicable within classroom routines.
Use diverse grouping strategies. Grouping children solely by ability may affect their learning outcomes and self-esteem. Consider other groupings based on interests, friendship pairs or learning styles, depending on the activity’s nature and purpose.