Anti-racist guidance for childcare settings launched

Early Years Minister Jayne Bryant has welcomed guidance aimed at creating an anti-racist culture in childcare settings in Wales.

The toolkit provides clear and practical advice for childcare providers on a range of anti-racist topics. It will be available for those working in childcare, early years and play sectors in Wales.

It was developed by a consortium of five childcare and play partners – Cwlwm - and the Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning organisation (DARPL).

Childcare and playwork settings, the Welsh government, community mentors and a range of individuals with lived experience were also involved in its development.

The toolkit includes practical advice about becoming familiar with the Halo code for afro-textured hair and providing books reflecting the diversity of Wales as part of children’s libraries.

It aims to provide settings and staff with advice about steps they can take to ensure the environment they create and the provision they offer is anti-racist.

It also supports settings to build relationships with parents and the local communities to promote understanding about people from different backgrounds.

The toolkit reinforces ambitions from the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aim to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality, culturally responsive childcare and educational experiences.

These include specific goals and objectives for both education and childcare settings focused on children, learners of all ages and the workforce.

To support early years practitioners, the Welsh government has worked in partnership with DARPL and Cwlwm partners to create online anti-racist training for the early years sector, as well as supported a growth in the provision of anti-racist resources available to the sector.

Gwenllian Lansdown- Davies from Cwlwm said: "This practical toolkit will be useful for all childcare, play and early years settings as they embed anti-racism within their practice. This will benefit children and the enabling adults working with them."