Glen Education North Cheltenham

Culturally Responsive Practices

By Clare Pollock, Early Childhood Teacher

At Glen Education North Cheltenham Kindergarten (Glen NCK), we are proud to welcome families from many different cultural backgrounds. As early childhood educators, we recognise how important it is to celebrate this diversity and ensure every child feels included, respected, and valued.

By embedding culturally responsive practices into our daily routines, we create a learning environment where all children develop a strong sense of belonging, pride in their identity, and curiosity about the world around them.

Celebrating Diversity Through Daily Practice

At Glen NCK, we work to ensure every child feels seen and valued by celebrating differences and learning about each other’s cultures in fun and meaningful ways.

Recently, we have been reading storybooks and picture books that represent a wide range of people and places. These stories spark thoughtful group discussions about what makes each of us unique. During playtime, we encourage children to care for their play spaces and consider others who may join in. These small actions build respect, responsibility, and empathy.

All of this connects to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) as we support children in becoming kind, thoughtful individuals who celebrate the diversity of the world around them.

Embedding Culture in Everyday Moments

We incorporate cultural learning into our daily routines in ways that are engaging and accessible for children:

• Acknowledgment of Country is offered before group time, using movement and gesture to help children connect with its meaning.
• Dreamtime stories are frequently shared and have become a favourite among the children, offering rich storytelling experiences and cultural learning.
• Our learning environment includes Indigenous-inspired resources, such as printed fabrics and dolls, giving children opportunities to explore culture through play.

Honouring Identity Through Language

We celebrate each child’s background by incorporating multiple languages into our interactions where possible. Several of our educators are multilingual, which allows us to use children’s home languages during the day. This practice helps children feel proud of their identity, builds confidence, and fosters a stronger sense of belonging within the group.

Building an Inclusive Community

By embracing and celebrating different cultures through storytelling, language, play, and daily routines, we are helping children develop respect, empathy, and curiosity about others.

At Glen NCK, cultural responsiveness isn’t just part of our curriculum—it is part of who we are every day. We are committed to growing an inclusive community where every child’