Intercultural Competence
Intercultural competence prepares children for living in diverse communities and building bridges across differences.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Champions of Character
- Learning area: Socio-Emotional
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Develop skills for cross-cultural interaction
- Practise cultural humility
- Build relationships across differences
Materials
- Cultural exploration materials
- Interaction practise scenarios
- Reflection tools
Instructions
Explore what culture includes: values, traditions, communication styles, family structures. Practise cultural humility: 'I don't know everything about other cultures, but I'm curious and respectful.' Learn cross-cultural communication skills: asking respectful questions, not making assumptions, finding common ground. Practise interactions with people different from themselves.
Educator tip
Avoid tokenizing children from different backgrounds—intercultural competence is about everyone learning together, not about 'different' kids teaching 'normal' kids.
Assessment
Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Observe cultural humility, cross-cultural communication skills, and relationship-building across differences.