Inclusion Policy - Incorporating Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities

The Pre-school Learning Alliance is committed to helping pre-schools provide equality of opportunity for all children and families and take positive action to eliminate discrimination in all areas of their work. As a member of the Alliance, Blakesley Pre-School Playgroup works in accordance with all relevant legislation, including

• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Race Relations Act 1976
• Sex Discrimination Act 1986
• Children Act 1989

We believe that the group's activities should be open to all children and families, and to all adults committed to their education and care. We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in, or volunteer to help with, our pre-school have an equal chance to do so.

Admissions

The pre-school is open to every family in the community. The waiting list is not operated on a first come, first served basis but on a fairer system. We use the following system for accepting children from the waiting list:

 Children will be put on our waiting list in order of birth date. Parents will be contacted at the end of the half-term prior to the childs birthday to confirm that they still require a place.

Families joining the pre-school are made aware of its equal opportunities policy, which is regularly reviewed.

Employment

Any vacancies will be advertised. The pre-school will appoint the best person for each job and will treat fairly all applicants for jobs and all those appointed.

Commitment to implementing the group's Equal Opportunities Policy will form part of the job description for all workers.

Families

The pre-school recognises that many different types of family group can and do successfully love and care for children. The pre-school aims to offer support to all families.

The pre-school offers a flexible payment system for families with differing means.

Festivals

Our aim is to show respectful awareness of all the major events in the lives of the children and families in the pre-school, and in our society as a whole, and to welcome the diversity of backgrounds from which they come.

In order to achieve this:

• We aim to acknowledge all the festivals which are celebrated in our area and/or by the families involved in the pre-school.

• Without indoctrination in any specific faith, children will be made aware of the festivals which are being celebrated by their own families or others, and will be introduced where appropriate to the stories behind the festivals.

• Before introducing a festival with which the adults in the pre-school are not themselves familiar, appropriate advice will be sought from parents and other people who are familiar with that festival.

• Children and families who celebrate at home festivals with which the rest of the pre-school is not familiar will be invited to share their festival with the rest of the group, if they themselves wish to do so.

• Children will become familiar with and enjoy taking part in a range of festivals, together with the stories, celebrations and special food and clothing they involve, as part of the diversity of life.

All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured. Activities and the use of play equipment offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination. Management of resources within the pre-school will ensure that both girls and boys have full access to all kinds of activities and equipment and are equally encouraged to enjoy and learn from them.

Appropriate opportunities will be given to children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others.

 Resources

These will be chosen to give children a balanced view of the world and an appreciation of the rich diversity of our multi-racial society.

Materials will be selected to help children to develop their self-respect and to respect other people by avoiding stereotypes and by using images and words which reflect positively the contribution of all members of society.

Special Needs

The pre-school recognises that children have a wide range of needs which differ from time to time, and will consider what part it can play in meeting these needs as they arise.

Planning for pre-school meetings and events will take into account the needs of people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Discriminatory Behaviour/Remarks

Any discriminatory language, behaviour or remarks by children, parents or any other adults are unacceptable in the pre-school.

Our response will aim to demonstrate support for the victim(s), to help those responsible to understand and overcome their prejudices and to make it clear that such behaviour/remarks will not be tolerated.

Language

Basic information, written and spoken, will be clearly communicated in as many languages as are necessary and possible.

Bilingual/multilingual children and adults are an asset to the whole group. Parents will be encouraged to speak to children in their first language at home.

Children and parents who have English as a second or additional language will be valued and their languages recognised and respected in the pre-school.

Food

Working in partnership with parents, children’s medical, cultural and dietary needs will be met.

Meetings

The pre-school will make every effort to ensure that the time, place and conduct of meetings enable the majority of parents to attend so that all families have an equal opportunity to be involved in and informed about the pre-school.

This policy was adopted at the Blakesley Pre-School Playgroup Annual General Meeting on 30th June 2003