Out of school inclusion
What is Inclusion?
Inclusion is about treating every person as an individual and seeking to meet their individual needs. These needs may be related to their age, gender, sexuality, physical or mental ability, culture, or religion. An inclusive setting should aim to meet the various needs of all children by removing all physical and social barriers to their participation. Disability should be viewed as a diverse range of ability in the same way as we refer to the capabilities of children without disabilities. Including a disabled child into a mainstream setting is not simple – but it’s certainly possible. It takes thought, commitment and consultation, together with the will to make it happen.
We aim to promote and support the inclusion of all children in their community in locally based holiday play schemes or after school clubs. This support is aimed at helping parents, carers and providers move towards the inclusion of all children, as well as provide more specialist provision where needed. We provide advice and training for all childcare providers for school aged children and information on legal requirements including the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. Model Inclusion policy
Legal and policy context
The Childcare Act 2006 placed an important new duty on local authorities to have particular regard to the provision of services suitable for disabled children.
The Disability Equality Act 2010 says that organisations must not:
- discriminate against a disabled child who requires their service by not providing that service
- discriminate against a disabled child by providing a service on worse terms, terminating the service or ‘subjecting [the child] to any other detriment’
- fail to make reasonable adjustments
- harass a disabled child
- victimise a disabled child.
Article 31 of The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says that 'Every child is entitled to rest and play, and to have the chance to join in a wide range of activities including cultural and artistic activities’.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) sets out the basic legal duties in promoting equality for disabled people. Part 3 of the DDA requires service providers (including play settings) to make ‘reasonable adjustments to policy, practice and procedures’.
- Council for Disabled Children
- Every Child Matters All Of Us - Inclusion Checklist for Settings
- Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) children with additional needs