Race Equality

Llanddulas playgroup is situated in North Wales; it serves a catchment area of a predominantly white population.

Aims

This Race Equality Policy enables Llanddulas Playgroup to meet its statutory obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to:

  • Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination;
  • Promote equal opportunities; and
  • Promote good relations between people of different racial groups

This policy, together with those which it complements (e.g. Inclusion, behaviour.), sets out our commitment to tackling racial discrimination and promoting equality and good race relations, and explains what this means for the whole playgroup community.

  • We aim to value diversity, promote equality and remove barriers to learning. We continuously strive to ensure that everyone in our Playgroup is treated with respect and dignity. Each person involved in our playgroup will be given fair and equal opportunities to develop their full potential with positive regard to gender, ethnicity, cultural and religious background, sexual orientation or disability.
  • This playgroup will promote race equality and oppose racism in all its forms and foster positive attitudes and commitment to an education for equality.
  • Children in the playgroup will be prepared for life in a multicultural society and will be assisted in appreciating the benefits of diversity.
  • Staff will strive to build an inclusive environment, where every child can fulfil their potential.

We aim to achieve this by:

  • Treating all those within the whole community (e.g. children, staff, parents and visitors) as equal partners meeting their individual needs.
  • Creating an ethos which is caring and inclusive.
  • Encouraging everyone within our playgroup community to support each other and foster positive attitudes, promoting mutual respect and valuing each individual.
  • Identify and removing all practices, procedures and customs which are discriminatory and replacing them with inclusive practice.
  • Monitoring and reviewing the policy on our rota at committee meetings.

Roles and Responsibilities

Each member of the Playgroup community has a role to play in meeting the aims of the race equality policy. However, specific responsibilities lie with different individuals:

The playgroup leader/manager is responsible for:

  • Monitoring and assessing the impact of the playgroup Race Equality Policy.
  • Monitoring the impact of all the playgroup policies on children and parents/carers from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
  • Ensuring that children and families from different racial groups are not discriminated against within the playgroup.
  • Ensuring that consultation processes involve Black and Minority Ethnic parents/carers, children and community groups wherever practicable.
  • Ensuring that all staff, children, parents/carers are aware of the Race Equality Education Policy and their responsibilities under it.
  • Embedding race equality within the curriculum and in learning and teaching approaches.
  • Monitoring attainment of Black and Minority Ethnic children and taking steps to address any underachievement.
  • Ensuring that information to parents is in a format accessible to parents for whom English is an additional language.
  • Making sure there is a named member of staff with responsibility for dealing with bullying and racism behaviour within the Playgroup.
  • Ensuring that all staff are dealing appropriately with racist incidents and recording them in the incident file.
  • Providing an inclusive ethos within the playgroup where diversity is acknowledged and celebrated.

All staff and volunteers are responsible for:

  • Promoting equality and fairness in all aspects of their work.
  • Responding appropriately to racism and racist incidents where they occur.
  • Delivering a curriculum which acknowledges and celebrates diversity.
  • Making themselves aware of their duties under the legislation, the Race Equality Policy.
  • Taking up opportunities where appropriate to extend their knowledge of race equality within the context of their post.

Parents are responsible for:

  • Supporting and working with the playgroup to implement the policy.

Complaints Procedures

If anyone in the playgroup feels that this policy is not being followed then they should raise the matter with the play leader/manager. If there is a formal complaint then the playgroups complaints procedure will be used.

Enforcing the Policy

  • A child or a member of staff who does not comply with the requirements of this Policy and their duties/responsibilities under the Race Equality Policy and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, 2000, will be disciplined through the existing procedures.
  • Parents are encouraged to support and work with the playgroup to implement the Policy.
  • Visitors to the playgroup are expected to comply with the Policy and the legislation.

Assessing the Impact of the Policy

As a playgroup we will strive to assess the impact of this and other policies on children, staff and parents from different ethnic groups. We will assess whether the policies have, or could have, an adverse impact on children from different racial groups. We will assess the effectiveness of our policies through existing arrangements for developing and reviewing other playgroup policies. We monitor the Ethnicity of children attending the playgroup through our registration form.

How the Policy is Promoted

Curriculum

  • All children are given opportunities to explore issues of race equality and diversity in the curriculum. Children are able to show appreciation of the diverse nature of the society in which they live.
  • Children feel that their own background is acknowledged and valued in the Playgroup.
  • Multicultural and anti-racist education is woven into the whole curriculum, differentiated to meet the needs of all the children.
  • Anti-racist elements of the curriculum are interesting, challenging and engage the children.
  • Staff evaluate the effectiveness of the delivery and content of anti-racist education and use such information to make adjustments and improvements to the curriculum.
  • Children are aware of the unacceptable nature of racial discrimination (name-calling, etc).
  • Children understand the effects of racial discrimination, bullying, name-calling etc. and are provided with guidance from staff enabling them to challenge it in themselves and others.
  • Staff are aware of ways in which discrimination manifests itself in education e.g. against people of a different social class, Gypsy Traveller families, asylum seekers, Muslim families, etc.

Development and Learning through Play

  • Recognition of diversity in today's society is planned and progressed throughout the playgroup to ensure that it is embedded in all areas of the curriculum, at all stages and as discrete units of work where appropriate.
  • Opportunities for planning multicultural and anti-racist education inputs with colleagues are well organised.
  • Consideration is given to a wide range of cultural approaches to play and learning.
  • Parents and staff understand the purpose and aims of anti-racist education.
  • Whether as a discrete course or embedded into areas of the curriculum, children's work on race equality is assessed and given equal status to other pieces of work.
  • A range of resources are used to put across an anti-racist message to all children.
  • An anti-racist learning environment is provided through resources, classroom displays, behaviour, etc.
  • The diversity of children in the playgroup and local community is fully recognised through planned input and resources.
  • Appropriate account is taken of pupils' linguistic, religious and cultural background when planning activities.
  • The progress of minority ethnic children is carefully monitored and assessed for any evident or developing trends and strategies then put in place to address these.

Support for Children and Families

  • There is a clear well-defined behaviour policy on dealing with racial incidents and bullying which is communicated to all staff and parents.
  • Children are aware that racist behaviour will not be tolerated in the playgroup.
  • Racist behaviour and comments are never tolerated, condoned or ignored.
  • Children feel comfortable in reporting racist incidents to staff.
  • Staff are able to define when an incident has been racist.
  • Support is given to children who encounter racial discrimination or harassment.
  • Children who display racist behaviour are given support in addressing their behaviour and attitudes.
  • Parents are involved where children demonstrate racist behaviour or attitudes.
  • Parents are involved where a child has encountered racial discrimination or harassment.
  • There are clear and consistent expectations of staff with regard to racism and dealing with racist incidents.
  • Children show an understanding of race equality and demonstrate positive attitudes to people different to themselves.
  • Children are assisted in becoming confident in challenging racism and racial incidents.
  • Where appropriate, activities and planned programmes of work are provided for minority ethnic children in order to promote cultural identity and self-confidence.
  • The playgroup welcomes s Gypsy/Traveller children into the nursery.
  • Staff ensure that stereotypical assumptions are not made about any children.
  • The playgroup prominently and actively values bilingualism.
  • Information to parents on the playgroup and its curriculum is obtained in different languages or offered through an interpreter from the English as an additional language service as appropriate.
  • The cultural and linguistic needs of minority ethnic children with special educational needs are recognised and accounted for.
  • Where required, assessment of children with Special Educational Needs is done with a trained interpreter to ensure the accuracy of the assessment.

Ethos

  • Minority ethnic children identify strongly with the playgroup and are happy to be there.
  • Minority ethnic parents, including those for whom English is an additional language, feel welcomed and supported by the playgroup.
  • There are few racist incidents in the playgroup, but when these arise, children and parents feel confident about reporting them to staff and being taken seriously.
  • All racist incidents are investigated and handled with concern and sensitivity. No racist incident reported to staff goes unchecked.
  • Achievements of minority ethnic children both in and out of playgroup are celebrated and where appropriate included in children's reports.
  • Children who demonstrate positive attitudes towards others (including challenging racism) are visibly valued and praised.
  • The promotion of equality of opportunity and a sense of fairness are strongly evident in the work of the playgroup at all levels.
  • Ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic diversity is recognised, valued and promoted as a positive feature of the playgroup and its community.
  • Positive steps are taken to ensure that children, parents and staff are treated equally, with respect and in a fair and just manner.
  • Culture and language, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and special educational needs are not barriers to participation.
  • There is a whole-playgroup approach to issues of equality and fairness, such as racial harassment and sexual discrimination.
  • Staff, children and visitors to the playgroup feel valued, safe and secure.

Resources

  • Children, who might face racism, feel safe and secure in all areas of the playgroup. .Racist graffiti is always immediately removed.
  • Diversity is celebrated in the ethos of the playgroup through displays of community languages, a range of cultures and religions, children's work.
  • The playgroup has a good stock of resources for teaching about diversity and anti-racist education and staff contribute to this by sharing books, resources and materials.
  • Posters and leaflets are visible around the playgroup, which promote positive racial equality and value all cultures.
  • Where staff require further support in delivering race equality education, this is recognised and provided for by the management team.
  • Fair recruitment practices are evident.
  • Positive action is used to try to recruit staff from minority ethnic communities.
  • Opportunities are sought to provide children with positive minority ethnic role models.
  • Where available, visiting English as an Additional Language (EAL) staff are well supported by the management and staff of the playgroup.
  • The expertise and knowledge of EAL staff is well utilised and valued by the playgroup.
  • Staff contributions to the development of anti-racist education are well supported.

Management and Leadership

  • The manager/play leader has responsibility for taking an overview of race equality matters in the playgroup.
  • Awareness of race equality issues and legislation and commitment to promoting race equality forms part of the staff development and review process.
  • The playgroup aims include the promotion of equality and social inclusion. All policies in the playgroup are "equality proofed" and race equality permeates all policies.
  • The playgroups Race Equality Policy takes full account of the views of staff, parents, and children.
  • Playgroup policies and practice acknowledge the positive nature of bilingualism and support its development.
  • Positive steps are taken to gather the views of minority ethnic parents and about the quality of service provided by the playgroup in our parent questionnaire that goes to all parents.
  • Local minority ethnic parents feel positive about their children attending the playgroup.
  • Opportunities are provided for staff to evaluate the anti-racist work in the nursery, at staff meetings.
  • The innovations of staff are welcomed and acknowledged.