Statement of intent

Gunter Primary School takes great care to treat each individual as a person in their own right, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they be an adult or child. The setting is committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs.

Discrimination on the grounds of any of the ‘protected characteristics’ as outlined in the Equality Act 2010

• disability
• age
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex; and
• sexual orientation.

has no place within our setting.

Should anyone believe that this policy is not being upheld, it is their duty to report the matter to the attention of the head teacher at the earliest opportunity.

"Everyone is an insider, there are no outsiders, whatever their beliefs, whatever their colour, gender or sexuality."

Desmond Tutu 2014

See also:

SEN and Disabilities policy

Accessibility Plan

Pupil Premium Strategy Document

LAC policy statement

Our aims

Staff and governors are committed to:

• Recruiting, selecting, training and promoting individuals on the basis of occupational skills requirements. In this respect, the settings will ensure that no job applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of any protected characteristic which cannot be justified as being necessary for the safe and effective performance of their work or training

• Providing a place, wherever possible, for children/adults who are designated disabled or disadvantaged according to their individual circumstances (e.g. EAL, LAC), and the settings ability to provide the necessary standard of care

• Striving to promote equal access to services and projects by taking practical steps, (where possible) such as ensuring access to children and adults with additional needs and by producing materials in relevant languages and media

• Providing a secure environment in which all our children/families can flourish and all contributions are valued

• Including and valuing the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity

• Providing positive non-stereotype information about different ethnic groups and people with disabilities

• Improving our knowledge and understanding of issues of equality and diversity

• Regularly reviewing practice to ensure the policy is effective and practices which are discriminatory

• Making inclusion a thread, which runs through all of the activities of the settings including encouraging positive role models through the use of toys, imaginary play and activities that promote non-stereotyped images. 

• Promoting and celebrating British Values alongside Gunter Values.

Admissions

The setting is accessible to all children and families in the local community and further a field through a comprehensive and inclusive admissions policy. 

Staff

It is the policy of settings not to discriminate, whether directly or indirectly in the treatment of others.  All staff are expected to co-operate with the implementation, monitoring and improvement of this and other policies.  All staff are expected to challenge language, actions, behaviours and attitudes which are oppressive or discriminatory on the grounds as specified in this policy. All staff are expected to participate in equal opportunities training.  Adults in the school are excepted to provide good, positive role models in their approach to all issues relation to equality of opportunity.

Training

The setting recognises the importance of training as a key factor in the implementation of an effective inclusion and equality policy.  The setting will strive towards the provision of inclusion, equality and diversity training for all staff on a frequent basis.

Communication

Information about meetings and activities will be communicated in a variety of ways according to individual needs (written, verbal and translated), to ensure that all parents have information about access to the information.

Curriculum

Curriculum planning at Gunter reflects a commitment to equality for all, preparing pupils for life in a diverse society.  The curriculum offered in the school encourages children to develop positive attitudes to people who are different from them. It encourages children to empathise with others and to begin to develop the skills of critical thinking.

We do this by:

• making children feel valued and good about  themselves
• ensuring that children have equality of access to learning and opportunities
• reflecting the widest possible range of communities in the choice of resources
• avoiding stereotypes or derogatory images in the selection of materials
• celebrating a wide range of festivals
• creating an environment of mutual respect and tolerance
• helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are unacceptable
• ensuring that the curriculum offered is inclusive of children with learning difficulties and or disabilities and children from disadvantaged backgrounds
• ensuring that children whose first language is not English have full access to the curriculum and are supported in their learning.
• the explicit teaching of British Values and Gunter Values.
• using the No Outsiders books to enhance our SMSC and Collective Worship provision
• identifying the particular needs of individuals and groups within the school as early as possible
• putting in place appropriate and timely interventions (pastoral and/or academic) for any pupil disadvantaged according to their individual circumstances and at risk of not reaching their full potential
• actively encouraging all pupils to engage fully in their own learning.
• having a clear, agreed procedure for dealing with prejudice related bullying incidents.