Guidance for promoting in early years and childcare

1 Guidancefor promotingequalitiesin early yearsand childcareContents of Guidance :1. IntroductionResponsibilities in early years and is an equality Policy? Guidance for good Example of an equality Action Plan3. Practical information and ideas to support practitioners inchildcare settings Play Working with parents/carers21. IntroductionResponsibilities inEarly years and ChildcareEarly years and childcare settings which aredirectly run or maintained by the local educationauthority, are bound by the general and specificduties for a public authority.

2 Voluntary, independent and private early yearsand childcare settings/services do not have thesame statutory duty as public , the principles of equity and justiceunderpinning the law should be applied by allsettings as good practice. Furthermore where theprovision is overseen, coordinated or advised bythe local early years and childcare service(Which, as indicated above, has public authoritymembership), the local authority will haveresponsibility to ensure the duties are aim:We aim to:Ensure that all children and adults areencouraged and able to achieve theirfull and value differences children for life in a diverse the existence of prejudiceand take steps to prevent our environment a place whereeveryone feels welcomed and our knowledge and understandingof beliefs, cultures and staff training when theopportunities legal framework for this policy is:The Equalities Act to provide protection againstdiscrimination for people who share thefollowing protected characteristics:1.

3 Age2. Disability3. Gender reassignment4. Marriage and civil partnership5. Pregnancy and maternity6. Race7. Religion and belief8. Sex9. Sexual Orientation2. What is anEquality Policy?All childcare settings should have an equality policy in place to ensure their settingcommunicates effectively to the many different families within their local area. This policyshould outline how you consider equality in every aspect of your childcare business inorder to avoid discrimination. It should show your Aims, details of the Equalities Actlegislation and what Methods you use to ensure equality .

4 Example of an equality policyYour statement of intentOur setting is committed to anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families. Werespect and value the diversity which exists in the wider community. We are committed tochallenging attitudes that promote discrimination, ensuring respect for all and preparing allchildren for life in a diverse methods:Admissions:Our setting is open to all members of thecommunity:We welcome all families advertise our service in the communityand support families for whom English is anadditional reflect the diversity of members of oursociety in our publicity and provide information in clear, conciselanguage, whether in spoken or written possible we provide information inlanguages of our do not discriminate against anychildren, parents or carers on any ensure that all parents and carers aremade aware of our equalities :We are an equal opportunity employer.

5 Posts are advertised and all participants arejudged against explicit and fair job descriptions include a commitmentto equality and diversity as part of will consider positive action whenrecruiting to posts, to attract people fromunder-represented groups into :We seek out training opportunities for staffand volunteers to enable them to developpractices which enable all children to review our practices to ensure that weare fully implementing our equalities ensure that all staff have anunderstanding and knowledge of equalityand diversity, and the characteristics ofprotected :Every member of staff is responsible fordiversity.

6 However we will have a namedmember of staff responsible for leadingon encourage parents to share skills withstaff and handle questions about differencehonestly, sensitively and develop an equality action plan toensure that everyone is treat everyone with respect and withconsideration of their provide a welcoming atmosphere withapproachable offer children a secure environment inwhich to explore their own culture and thatof their actively seek ways to counter thelearning of negative attitudes and behaviourtowards check that our resources reflect diversityand do not promote negative Guidance forGood PracticeThe following steps need tobecome part of your everydayroutine and

7 Should:Examine all your existing policies,procedures and practices and assesswhether they promote a strategy to evaluate the impact ofall you do on all children and their families inthe area and whether they mightdisadvantage families from particular advice and support from the localauthority and attend all relevant training. Ensure that all your practitionersunderstand the law and its all your policies, practices andprocedures to ensure there is nodiscrimination on any that everyone in your setting isequally valued, treated with equal respectand concern, and that the needs of eachindividual are that each child and family hasequal access and entitlement to allavailable opportunities for learning,experiences and positive attitudes and behaviourto all people.

8 Whether they are different fromor similar to aspects of other people s lives the needs of every child and adultare identified and addressed and thateveryone shares an ethos to promoteequality in a commitment to equality and a namedmember of staff responsible for questions about differencehonestly, sensitively and openly. Recognise the need for training in equalitywhatever the demographic make up of yoursetting and its surrounding an equality action a commitment to promoting goodrelations between different a commitment to challenging anderadicating prejudice.

9 Ensure that all adults are good role modelsfor the wall displays that show people fromdiverse backgrounds doing everyday things. Check that your resources reflect diversityand do not promote negative ensure dolls and puppets have accurateand realistic skin tones, facial features andhair all practitioners have access toequalities all practitioners have anunderstanding of equality and or celebrate festivals todevelop an awareness of similarities anddifferences between visitors from all parts of thecommunity into your Example of anEquality Action Plan equality Action PlanPre-school/Childminder/Out of School Club/Nursery/Setting Name.

10 Date ..ActionHowBy whomAchieved byCompletedFeedback toall staff fromtrainingAt next staffmeetingfeedbackfrom thetrainingcourse andthe actionstaken back toour settingAs a staffteam look atthe IDPmaterials anddiscusssome of thescenariosChoose ascenario anddiscuss ingroups of 2or 3 feedbackof ourcomments tothe wholestaff teamReview ourequality ofopportunitypolicyInvolvemanagers,staff , parents, Practical informationand ideas to supportpractitioners in early yearsand childcare settings How do we welcome all families equally?Things to consider:Is your environment welcoming?