Inclusion at Affinity Education
At Affinity Education, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. Inclusion isn’t a policy - it’s a mindset that guides how we welcome families, support children, and empower our educators every single day.
We’re proud to create learning environments where every child can thrive, no matter their background, culture, language, identity, or ability.
Aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS), our inclusive practices are built around one simple truth: every child is unique, and when we embrace those differences, we all grow stronger together.
What Inclusion Looks Like in Our Centres
Inclusion starts with belonging. That means every child - and every family - feels welcome, supported, and part of our community from day one.
Our inclusive practices include:
Respect for Individual Differences
We celebrate the many cultures, family structures, languages and lived experiences represented across our centres. Our educators create learning spaces that reflect this diversity and encourage children to be proud of who they are.
Support for Children with Additional Needs
We work closely with families and external specialists to provide personalised support. This may include individual learning plans, visual supports, assistive technology, or sensory-friendly environments to help every child participate meaningfully in learning.
Promoting Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Inclusion is about how children feel - not just what they can access. Our educators foster strong relationships, model kindness, and help children develop empathy, confidence, and respect for others.
Inclusion in the Lifelong Learning Curriculum
Our Lifelong Learning Curriculum helps children build a strong sense of identity, belonging, and community. Inclusion is woven throughout everything we do - from classroom conversations to cultural celebrations.
Culturally Inclusive Practices
Children explore the richness of different cultures through songs, stories, food, and art. We include diverse voices in our learning experiences to ensure all children feel represented.
Accessible Play and Learning
We adapt activities so that every child can join in, no matter their developmental stage or abilities. This helps children learn alongside their peers while building confidence in their own strengths.
Supporting Language Diversity
We embrace and celebrate home languages. Where possible, we incorporate a child’s first language into activities, and support their English language learning gently and respectfully.
Family and Community Connections
We invite families to share their cultures, experiences and knowledge. Whether it’s a cooking activity, a special event, or a community celebration, we value the contributions of all families and encourage strong partnerships.
Supporting Our Educators to Lead Inclusive Practice
We know that inclusion starts with empowered educators. That’s why we invest in ongoing training to build confidence, skills, and cultural responsiveness across every role in our organisation.
Topics covered in our professional development include:
- Cultural competence and celebrating diversity
- Inclusive teaching strategies to support children with additional needs
- Challenging bias and promoting equity in early childhood settings
Our educators are encouraged to reflect, adapt, and lead with empathy - because inclusion is a journey we all take together.
Why Inclusion Matters
Inclusion gives every child the opportunity to thrive. It helps children feel safe in who they are, and it teaches them to accept and respect others.
By creating inclusive environments today, we’re nurturing a generation of kind, compassionate and open-minded young people - and building stronger communities for the future.
At Affinity Education, inclusion is more than a goal - it’s how we show up every day for children, families and each other.