Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years: A Holistic Framework for the Wellbeing of All Children

“Dr Valerie Daniel is a shining light for our sector. A must-read for all early years professionals and those training to enter into the early years sector. The way in which Valerie has written this book, frstly, speaks from the heart and, secondly, takes you on a journey, one in which you feel engrossed to continue to read, learn, and refect on why anti- racism is an important aspect which truly needs embedding into our practices.” Aaron Bradbury, Principal Lecturer – Early Childhood and Childhood, Nottingham Trent University “Dr Valerie Daniel introduces her book on anti-racist practice as ‘a journey we can walk together’ and she delivers. Unafraid to challenge the reader, she does so with compassion. Her warmth, wisdom, and passion for equity in educational settings shine through the text creating the safe space needed for anti-racist refection and action to take place. Dr Valerie draws upon personal insight and diverse sources to create something unique and refreshing in educational theory.” Alice Ndiaye, Local Authority Inclusion Adviser “Dr Daniel presents a real depth of understanding in this book. She opens up her thoughts, skills, and experiences as an informative guide, highlighting issues of race and anti-racism. Her animation infused and contextualised approach to the complexity of race and racism within the early years features her profciency to untangle and decipher a convoluted moment in time. The book engages the reader by balancing the uncomfortable with a rich lived experience. The need to effectively become changemakers is a powerful call for all of us to action as refective practitioners.” Sharon Curtis, CEO, Emosi – Transcultural Therapeutic Care (TTC) i Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years Are all children treated equally in your class? Are you aware if you are displaying unconscious bias? How might this be playing out in your setting? These conversations need to take place if we are ever to shift systemic racism, for the wellbeing of all children in the early years and beyond. This essential guide addresses diversity and inclusion in a meaningful and constructive way. The holistic approach explores a range of pertinent topics for the early years and demonstrates the positive impact educators can make by developing their knowledge of systemic racism, critically refecting upon their provision, and embedding anti-racist practice within their settings. This book includes: • A framework to embed and sustain anti-racist practice in early years education. • Case studies to explore constructions of racism in early childhood and the experiences of black children and their families. • Refective questions to encourage readers to consider their own practices and to drive change. • A brief history of racism to create a sense of understanding and awareness of how we got to where we are today. • Practical strategies to equip those who work in the early years and to gain confdence in their anti-racist practice. • A focus on the power of professional love and co-creation to shift the dynamic and build the best outcomes for all children. By making anti-racism real in our learning environments and refecting upon and reviewing provision, early years educators can ensure they are committed to their remit of advocacy for the children and communities whose lives they touch. This powerful book is a vital read for all trainee and practising early years professionals, reception teachers, nursery teachers, and managers. Valerie Daniel is a qualifed teacher with over 30 years’ experience, with the last 14 years in the role of a Maintained Nursery School headteacher. Valerie is a Doctor of Education, a trained systems leader, and leadership mentor for other headteachers and leaders in the Early Years Sector. She can be found on twitter @Valerie_JKD. Little Minds Matter Promoting Social and Emotional Wellbeing in the Early Years Series Advisor: Sonia Mainstone-Cotton The Little Minds Matter series promotes best practice for integrating social and emotional health and wellbeing into the early years setting. It introduces practitioners to a wealth of activities and resources to support them in each key area: from providing access to ideas for unstructured, imaginative out- door play; activities to create a sense of belonging and form positive identi- ties; and, importantly, strategies to encourage early years professionals to create a workplace that positively contributes to their own wellbeing, as well as the quality of their provision. The Little Minds Matter series ensures that practitioners have the tools they need to support every child. Supporting Behaviour and Emotions in the Early Years Strategies and Ideas for Early Years Educators Tamsin Grimmer A Guide to Mental Health for Early Years Educators Putting Wellbeing at the Heart of Your Philosophy and Practice Kate Moxley Supporting the Wellbeing of Children with EAL Essential Ideas for Practice and Refection Liam Murphy Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years Conversations to Empower Children, Professionals, Families and Communities Sonia Mainstone-Cotton and Jamel Carly Campbell Developing Child-Centred Practice for Safeguarding and Child Protection Strategies for Every Early Years Setting Rachel Buckler Little Brains Matter A Practical Guide to Brain Development and Neuroscience in Early Childhood Debbie Garvey Creativity and Wellbeing in the Early Years Practical Ideas and Activities for Young Children Sonia Mainstone-Cotton Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years A Holistic Framework for the Wellbeing of All Children Valerie Daniel Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years A Holistic Framework for the Wellbeing of All Children Valerie Daniel Designed cover image: Sara, age 3, her ‘happy place’ is family and sunshine First published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2023 Valerie Daniel The right of Valerie Daniel to be identifed as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Daniel, Valerie, author. Title: Anti-racist practice in the early years : a holistic framework for the wellbeing of all children / Valerie Daniel. Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. | Series: Little minds matter ; 10 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Provided by publisher. Identifers: LCCN 2022047715 (print) | LCCN 2022047716 (ebook) | ISBN 9781032162645 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032162652 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003247807 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Early childhood education--Social aspects. | Classroom environment--Social aspects. | Holistic education. | Anti-racism. Classifcation: LCC LB1139.23 .D347 2023 (print) | LCC LB1139.23 (ebook) | DDC 372.21--dc23/eng/20221130 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022047715 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022047716 ISBN: 978-1-032-16264-5 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-032-16265-2 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-24780-7 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003247807 Typeset in Optima by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India Contents Trigger warning viii Preface ix 1 The complexity of social relations and social power 1 2 A short history of racism: “Mum, what do you hope to gain from this chapter?” 23 3 “What’s typical for you may not be typical for me!”: The power of environments 42 4 “Are we really that different?”: Debunking stereotypical perceptions and popular myths 54 5 “Humanity is messy!” 80 6 The warning light on the dashboard: “Work on the problem or prepare for the fallout” 102 7 The power of professional love: Working above and beyond our biases 113 Conclusion 129 References 131 Index 135 vii Trigger warning Racism is a diffcult topic at the best of times. It touches all of our lives in some shape or form and as such it may trigger feelings about the children you work with or create strong emotions regarding your personal situation. This book explores themes on generational trauma and identity-based issues and I would encourage you to note how you are feeling when reading the book and to take care of your mental safety and wellbeing. Be kind to yourself, take a moment to process in the best way you can. Creating a safe space to explore your thoughts, beliefs, values and feelings is a strategy that is explored throughout this book. Remember, your wellbeing is important as it supports your ability to give your best to the children in your care. viii Preface Lately it seems that we can’t escape news about racism and all the ways that life is not fair for some people. It is everywhere! Personally, I am exhausted, and more than ready for change. I am well aware that beating the racism drum is not going to magically open the hearts and minds of people, espe- cially those who cannot relate (or don’t want to relate) to the experiences of others. Trying to make the point that racism is deeply ensconced in the fabric of UK society is exhausting and I am willing to bet that both you and I are engorged from a well-publicised and not so subtly politicised diet of narratives that only serve to further widen the ideological gulf that we cur- rently fnd ourselves in. The problem with an ideological gulf is that we are already at the point of “them” and “us”: a battleground for winners or losers with very little hope of compromise. This kind of polarisation is emotional and identity-driven and generally keeps us busy with what we believe rather than what we know. We live in a world where divisiveness keeps the wheels of the media in perpetual motion, amplifying extreme views and moral out- rage, reducing the lives and experiences of people who suffer racism to a bit of entertainment, especially on social media, when those who desire, can say their worst from a secure hiding place behind their computer screens. This ideological gulf, whether real or virtual, stops normal, everyday people from connecting and forming more accurate impressions of people they per- ceive to be different to them. My intention for this book is to engage in a “getting to know each other” process and to offer a literary olive branch (so to speak) for when our ideas and opinions do not appear to align at face value. I will try to avoid sweeping generalisations or a “holier than thou” attitude and more than anything, I will aim to avoid any form of pressure. However, because of the sensitive nature of the subject, I cannot promise that there won’t be ix