Newhill First Steps Child Care
Award - £29,578.12
Belfast Trust Area
The setting is based in the Newhill area of West Belfast. The area has a high level of deprivation and is in the top 10% of most disadvantaged wards when measured by the Multiple Deprivation Indices. The Pathway Fund supports 10 pre pre places and 10 extended preschool places as well as a range of community relations and additional needs training.
In recent times the area has seen the arrival of a significant number of newcomer families from other countries and cultures. The setting has made it a priority to adjust to children from many different cultural backgrounds including Indian, Somali, Eastern Europe and Traveller communities.
The setting bases its approach on the Media Initiative Respecting Difference (MIFC) programme. The MIFC programme is an early intervention programme aimed at improving long term outcomes so that children, practitioners/teachers, parents and communities become more aware of diversity and difference issues and positively change attitudes and behaviours to those who are different. This evidenced based programme is backed up by an equal opportunities and anti-discrimination approach.
The setting communicates with parents to ensure that cultures and ethnicity are being respected and understood. The staff value diversity, race, culture, religion, gender and ability. The setting provides resources and activities for children such as dolls, puzzles, books and music that explore difference and help support respect and understanding. Through the use of the MIFC programme children have demonstrated improved inclusive behaviour and positive attitudinal change in relation to those who are different
