Gill_1

Equality, diversity & inclusion in work with children & young people. 1) 1.1 Areas of legislation are ever changing but it is important to be able to identify current and relevant aspects of those which promote equality and value diversity. Every Child Matters 2003 and Children Act 2004 These were put in place to ensure that all organisations and agencies involved with children between birth and 19 years should work together to ensure that children have the support needed to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well - being. The acronym SHEEP can help you remember this : • Stay safe • Healthy • Enjoy and achieve • Economic well – being • Positive contribution Following the Every Child Matters framework, the Children Act 2004 required that these recommendations become a legal requirement. The key aspect of the act was to overhaul child protection and children’s services in the U.K. Every child matters has been further developed through the publication of the Children’s Plan 2007 which sets out to improve educational outcomes for all children. Race Relations Act 1976 and 2000 The race relations act places a statutory duty on schools to promote race equality. It makes it against the law for a person to be discriminated against, whether directly or indirectly. Schools are expected to improve the educational achievements of all children and to promote equal opportunities and good relations between different racial groups. Schools are also required to have a race equality policy which is linked to an action plan. Disability Discrimination Act 1995/2005 This made it illegal for services such as shops and employers to discriminate against disabled people. According to the Disability Discrimination Act, a person has a disability if (s)he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day - to - day activities'.... 1.2 The rights that all pupils have are the right to a broad & balanced curriculum. They should also experience a high standard teaching and learning experience. All schools & learning institutions are obligated to deliver to all pupils, regardless of Race, colour, religion or background, also included is their gender or disabilities including their special needs. Learning is not exclusive to the classroom, it also includes everything that happens within school life. In order to gain the and raise the achievements & for each child to identify ones self & build good relationships, this has to be done through the participation of all children & young people. Involve children by asking them what works for them, what is best for them, what doesn’t work for them etc. Ways of Identifying Raising Achievement To maximise personal achievement in children and young people, then the equality of access to the curriculum needs to be promoted. Groups which have raised much concern are those children that belong to ethnic minorities, such as Black and Asian children. It has also been identified that pupils’ physical & economic background also plays a part in this too. This group is often referred to as the attainment gap. To treat each child equal and offer equal opportunities to each pupil, does not always mean that they are to be treated the same. Each pupil should be offered the resources available as well as their parents/guardian and be tailored to their individual needs in order to gain the achievements needed to progress within the school and school life. Additional support in early stages of identification can help towards preventing children from falling too far behind. Improving participation Everyone within the school should be included in the participation. Opportunities should be given to children and also to there parents & or guardians to talk about all aspects of the curriculum and whats involved, and how things can be made better for them and their children. School policies should be made available to all should they be requested, and should also include the development of the policies. Participation can be gained via meetings with parents. Children can be asked how they learn and what is best for them, and how this may be improved. Developing a sense of identity Pupils must be supported and given access to all that is happening in the school. The pupils sense of belonging and self esteem will then be built. To include pupils in the daily life of the school, and by them contributing this will make them feel like a valued member of the group. Independent learning should also be promoted within the school, which in time will enable them to make choices, and be able to have more control over their own learning, and will then give them a sense of achievement and will allow them to show full potential. This will also promote self worth & well being. Improving relationships between individuals & groups.