1. Equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
Unit 306

2. Unit 306 Equality & Diversity
By the end of this unit you will :
Be able to promote equality & diversity in work with children & young people
Understand the impact of prejudice and discrimination on children & young people
Be able to support inclusion & inclusive practices in work with children and young people.

3. What is equality?
Equality is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age.
Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the aforementioned areas. Bullying, harassment or victimization are also considered as equality and diversity issues.

4. What is diversity?
Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people’s differences to contribute and realise their full potential by promoting an inclusive culture for all staff and students.

5. Equality Act 2010 Protected characteristics
It is unlawful for a school to discriminate against a pupil or prospective pupil by treating them less favourably because of their:
sex b) race c) disability d) religion or belief
e) sexual orientation f) gender g) reassignment h) pregnancy or maternity
So, for example, a school must not discriminate by refusing to admit a pupil because his parents are gay men or lesbians. It would be race discrimination to treat a white pupil less favourably because she has a black boyfriend.

6. Equality Act continued…
Identifies four kinds on unlawful behaviour:
Direct discrimination: occurs when one person treats another less favourably, because of a protected characteristic, than they treat – or would treat – other people
Indirect discrimination: occurs when a “provision, criterion or practice” is applied generally but has the effect of putting people with a particular characteristic at a disadvantage when compared to people without that characteristic. An example might be holding a parents’ meeting on a Friday evening, which could make it difficult for observant Jewish parents to attend.

7. Equality Act cont’d..
Harassment: has a specific legal definition in the Act - it is “unwanted conduct, related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person”. This covers unpleasant and bullying behaviour, but potentially extends also to actions which, whether intentionally or unintentionally, cause offence to a person because of a protected characteristic.
Victimisation: occurs when a person is treated less favourably than they otherwise would have been because of something they have done (“a protected act”) in connection with the Act.
with the Act. A protected act might involve, for example, making an allegation of discrimination or bringing a case under the Act, or supporting another person’s complaint by giving evidence or information, but it includes anything that is done under or in connection with the Act. Even if what a person did or said was incorrect or misconceived, for example based on a misunderstanding of the situation or of what the law provides, they are protected against retaliation unless they were acting in bad faith. The reason for this is to ensure that people are not afraid to raise genuine concerns about discrimination because of fear of retaliation.

8. Exceptions in the Act
Disability: There is protection for a disabled person, but not for those who are not disabled.
Implication for school: can legally treat disabled pupils more favourably and in many cases, linked to SEN Code of Practice, Must have an up to date Accessibility Plan
Single sex schools
Schools of a religious faith
Admission policies of schools with particular focus e.g. faith

9. Every Child Matters/ Children’s Act 2004
As a result of the Lord Laming report aimed for organisations to work together for the best outcomes for children
Basis for the current National Curriculum five outcomes:
Stay safe
Healthy
Enjoy & achieve
Economic well-being
Positive contribution

10. SEN Code of Practice 2001
Special Needs Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
Strengthened the rights of parents and SEN children to a mainstream education.
Significant changes to the educational opportunities available to children with disabilities and SEN.

11. Schools policies
Look at mission statement – often sets out the commitment of the school towards inclusion and equality of opportunity.
Policies will provide guidance to staff:
Equality policy; Inclusion policy; Gifted & Talented; Special Needs; Disability & Access
See how these school policies meet legal and guidance requirements.

12. Youtube: Types of discrimination
Youtube: Ted Talk Can prejudice ever be a good thing?

13. Harassment
81% of girls & young women ages have either experienced or witnessed some form of every day sexism
One in four girls think twice about speaking up in class because they fear sexual harassment.
91% of girls aged 7-10 and only 43% of girls aged 11 to 21 say they have the same choice as boys at school in sport and exercise.

14. Inclusion
Youtube: Inclusion Working in 2015 – Primary School

15. 306 3.1 INCLUSION the right for all children to participate fully in the curriculum
(This does not mean treating all children the same but that the curriculum meets the individual needs of the child.)
Think of an example of this approach.
List all the benefits you can think of for a child to be “included”
How can inclusion be provided properly?
Discuss.