How can bilingual children be supported in negotiating home and school environments in their early years?

A number of education policies and resources to provide support for bilingual children have been put in place by successive UK governments. Currently, the suggested advice for early years on the inclusion of bilingual children requires early year’s practitioners to: ‘Find out about the child’s ethnic, faith and cultural heritage and home experiences, so that familiar experiences and interests can be used as starting points for learning and teaching’ (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, QCA 2000: 12).