Bringing Practitioners and Parents Together -
Development of a Framework for Action
for Promoting Cultural Diversity in
Early Childhood Education Settings
Awarded to: The Centre for Social and Family Research, Waterford Institute of Technology Key researchers: Fergus Hogan, Jonathan Culleton, Máire O’Reilly, Jacqui Duggan and Claire Nolan
Introduction
This project is aimed at developing a Framework for Action which will act as a practical tool for use by the DEIS Early Childhood Advisory Service and a range of other professionals involved in the development and delivery of early childhood education, to promote cultural diversity in early childhood education settings.
In an increasingly multicultural society, diversity is a key constituent of quality provision in the early years. The early childhood education setting often represents a child’s first point of contact beyond the immediate family. The challenge that exists in the multicultural Irish society of today is to develop care and learning environments within which the climate for developing positive attitudes is nurtured and/or existing prejudices are challenged. Given the reciprocal mechanisms that are inherent within each child’s development process (e.g., what happens at home influences what happens in the setting, and vice versa), the relationship between a practitioner and parent(s) must be strategic.
The Framework for Action will provide guidelines for practitioners and practical interventions for engaging parents on issues of cultural diversity. They will provide models of good practice and will be implemented in the identified settings.
Project Aim
The aim of this project is to develop a Framework for Action, which enables a broad range of professionals to devise practical strategies to promote a positive understanding of the identity and rights of all adults and children engaging with the early childhood education setting.
The project will focus on a range of identified settings that provide inclusive care and education for children in the birth to six age range, including the infant classes of primary schools, full and part-time daycare, sessional services and childminding.
This project will involve an extensive literature review, consultation with practitioners and parents, and observations within settings and aims to achieve the following:
Development of a Framework for Action that provides the practitioner with (i) a greater understanding of cultural diversity, (ii) an ability to engage with parents, and (iii) the capacity to combine both - in order to practically address diversity issues within their setting.
Development of associated guidelines (incorporating practical interventions and exemplars) to support self-reflection and examination within the practitioner.
Establishment of a relevant infrastructure of supports that will enable practitioners to engage with parents in terms of cultural diversity (e.g. on-site support, coaching, mentoring, provision of resources etc.).
Implementation of practice initiatives to promote and support parental involvement in a range of early childhood education settings.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Framework for Action.
Project Outcomes
The outcomes of the research project, culminating in a detailed report, will inform and support the development of best practice in early childhood education in Ireland by:
Providing an extensive review of research around cultural diversity and parental involvement, and models of good practice for supporting practitioners in early childhood education settings.
Clearly identifying the key areas for support and intervention of practitioners and parents through consultation and needs analysis.
Identifying the baseline situation and current status of cultural diversity and parental involvement within each particular type of early childhood education setting.
Identifying and disseminating models and examples of existing good practice within Irish early childhood education settings.
Development of a Framework for Action to support a range of professionals to devise strategies for engaging with parents around cultural diversity within the early childhood education setting.
Introducing and implementing the Framework for Action across a range of diverse settings within the four aforementioned categories of settings (including settings where the majority of children are from varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds), with a view to developing and enhancing quality practice.
Development and provision of a range of supports for implementing the Framework for Action (e.g., mentoring, on-site support, resources etc.).
Evaluating the implementation of the Framework for Action from the perspective of parents and practitioners.
Methodology
The initial phase of this project will involve an evidence-based literature review on the themes of cultural diversity and parental involvement within early childhood education settings. It will incorporate national and international practical models for cultural diversity training and education, and for parental involvement.
The second phase of the research – consultation and observation within designated settings – will be fully informed by the major findings of the literature review. Moreover, this will support the adaptation of international models to the specific contextual needs of Irish early childhood education settings and the production of a Framework for Action. This Framework will then be implemented in a selected sample of Irish settings.
Ongoing evaluation will form an integral part of the project – feedback from the parents and practitioners involved will be a constant factor, and will inform any modifications that need to be made to the Framework for Action before its completion. Furthermore, the evaluation process will inform any suggestions/ recommendations around the future needs (e.g., training, resources and materials) in terms of cultural diversity and parental involvement in early childhood education settings.
Site last updated:
9 February, 2012
Centre for Early Childhood Development & Education
Gate Lodge, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Tel: 00353 (0)1 8842110 Fax: 00353 (0)1 8842111
Email: early.childhood@spd.dcu.ie
