The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education

Many early childhood programs include young children with special educational needs (SEND). The goal of inclusion is to help all children learn and interact with peers to the best of their abilities.
The Inclusion Approach calls for teaching all children together, regardless of their ability level. Inclusive programs accentuate children's similarities as well as their differences. In inclusive programs, children with SEND take part in the general education curriculum based on their age, grade, abilities and functioning levels. They are not placed in separate classrooms, but rather the curriculum, teaching methods, classroom and the extra support the child receives are adapted to meet the children's needs.
In this course, students will learn about the historical, social and legislative background of the inclusion of children with SEND. Next, students will study about the characteristics of children with SEND in inclusive EC programs and will learn about the inclusion team, the responsibilities of the EC program teacher and other team members, and the importance of collaboration with the SEND child's parents. At the final part of the course different models of inclusion will be presented.