Opening the door is not sufficient : each child has rights to take part in the everyday life of an ECEC service

Despite the fact that Belgium has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, few children with special needs are taken care of in mainstream services. When they have access to a service, everything is focused on their deficiency. Professionals think they have to be trained to give what is considered as the “right” treatment to make the child « catch the others up ». There is an alternative way of thinking that focuses on each child’s competences. Adopting this way of thinking means to consider that what matters is every little thing a child can bring to the group, whatever his characteristics may be, and how he can benefit from daily life with other children and adults.
The workshop has been focused on conditions that can help increase quality provisions : Who is welcomed everyday? How does an ECEC service welcome each family? Are there children and families who don’t come to ECEC services? Why don’t they come? Are they sufficiently informed on the inclusive approach of ECEC services, Etc
The conference has referred to some testimonies collected by professionals from the French Community of Belgium.