ABSTRACT
All early years practitioners will be familiar with the ideal of providing inclusive settings and of engaging in inclusive practice. This chapter considers people practice in relation to working with children and families. It examines how good inclusive practice around lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality is of benefit to the children in people's setting, not just children with LGBT parents, but all children. The Index for Inclusion is a document that was developed specifically for early years practice, based on earlier versions for primary and secondary schools. As Nutbrown and Clough tell us, ‘difference is of interest to children, and the recognition of difference as positive rather than negative is an important aim for early childhood professionals’. Lindon suggests that effective equality practice will partly be led by how people set a good example in positive communication and deal with words or actions that could undermine children's sense of self-worth.
