Equality and our school

Public bodies, including schools, have a duty, under the 2010 Equality Act, to ensure that they promote equality within their organisation and this statement sets out how we try to achieve this at Aldercar Infant and Nursery School. We fundamentally believe that it is the right of every person to be treated with equal dignity and respect. This is integral to our school ethos and underpins all that we do.

We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers irrespective of race, gender, disability, belief, sexual orientation, age or socio-economic background. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which all those connected to the school feel proud of their identity and ability to participate fully in school life.

We tackle discrimination through the positive promotion of equality, by challenging bullying and stereotypes and by creating an environment which champions respect for all.

We believe that diversity is a strength which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit us.

We aim to create a happy, safe and secure environment, where members of our school community are healthy, enjoy learning, achieve their potential, respect and value each other and themselves.

As an educationally inclusive school the teaching and learning, achievements, attitudes and well-being of every young person matters. We take into account pupils’ varied life experiences and needs, providing equal opportunities for all pupils, whatever their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender / gender identity or socio-economic background, to ensure that every child really does matter.

We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which success is celebrated and all those connected to the school feel proud of their identity and able to participate fully in school life. We will tackle discrimination by the positive promotion of equality and the creation of an environment which champions respect for all.

 

Aims

Our school aims to meet its obligations under the public sector equality duty by having due regard for the need to:

· Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010.

· Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

· Foster good relations across all characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

 

What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED)?

The Equality Act 2010 introduced a single, general duty for public bodies, including schools, and which extends to all ‘protected characteristics’ – race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.

 

Legislation and guidance

This document meets the requirements under the following legislation:

· The Equality Act 2010, which introduced the public sector equality duty and protects people from discrimination.

· The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 which require schools to publish information to demonstrate how they are complying with the public sector equality duty and to publish equality objectives.

This document is also based on the Department for Education (DfE) guidance: The Equality Act 2010 and schools.

 

Roles and responsibilities

The governing board will:

· Ensure that the equality information and objectives as set out in this statement are published and communicated throughout the school, including to staff, pupils and parents.

· Delegate responsibility for monitoring the achievement of the objectives on a daily basis to the headteacher.

 

The Senior Leadership Team will:

· Promote knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives amongst staff and pupils.

· Monitor success in achieving the objectives and report back to governors.

· Ensure good support systems, including staffing, are in place for cohorts, groups or individuals in order to ensure that everyone has the potential to achieve highly

· Put in place and monitor support mechanisms to tackle inequalities that may impact on the education and life chances of our pupils for whole cohorts, groups and individuals.

 

Our classroom staff will:

· Teach a balanced and fair curriculum that challenges knowledge and promotes understanding.

· Support every individual to achieve highly and progress well from their individual starting points.

· Promote a culture of mutual trust and support where everyone feels valued, comfortable and listened to in all aspects of school life, including when sharing concerns or worries, no matter how small.

· Work effectively with a range of people who support our children eg. parents, medical colleagues and education support staff, to maximise potential and to overcome barriers to progress.

 

Our whole staff group will:

· Promote equality and inclusivity.

· Lead by example

How does Aldercar Infant and Nursery School comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty?

The school has a range of policies which make explicit the school’s commitment to actively promoting equality of opportunity for all. The main policies that deal with equality of opportunity are:

· Accessibility Policy

· Equality and Diversity policy

· SEND policy

· Behaviour policy

· Relationships and Sex Education Policy

· Admissions Policy

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school that cares for every individual child. To do this, we promote and deliver a range of strategies to ensure that we comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. It is through our weekly and termly themes that are explored in collective worship and learning sessions that give all of our pupils the opportunity to discuss and explore the values that underpin the PSED. We demonstrate compliance with the PSED by:

Eliminating Discrimination

· Implementing clear behavioural and anti-bullying policies grounded in respect, inclusion, and restorative approaches.

· Ensuring curriculum materials reflect diversity positively.

· Training staff on safeguarding, inclusion, SEND, and equality awareness.

Advancing Equality of Opportunity

· Tracking pupil progress across groups to identify disparities.

· Adjusting provision for SEND and vulnerable pupils through early intervention, personalised strategies, and external agency support.

· Providing inclusive enrichment opportunities, school trips, and clubs.

Fostering Good Relations

· Embedding respectful relationships through PSHE, circle time, and early-years personal development.

· Celebrating events such as cultural festivals, awareness weeks, and diversity days.

· Ensuring representation across books, displays, and learning resources.

· Promoting British values, protected characteristics and the school values through well planned assemblies.

· Ensuring we listen to pupils voices through weekly Smart School council sessions.

 

Prejudice is not tolerated at Aldercar Infant School and we are continually working towards a more accepting and respectful environment for our school community.

 

The school’s Equality Policy further outlines the school’s policies regarding equality.