Public Sector Equality Duty (Updated December 2021)

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 requires us to publish information that demonstrates that we have due regard for the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful  discrimination, harassment, victimisation  and any other conduct 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 between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Healdswood Infant & Nursery is an inclusive school where we focus on the well-being and progress of every child and where all members of our community are of equal worth.

We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups.

Our approach to equality is based on the following key principles:

1. All learners are of equal value

2. We recognise and respect difference

3. We foster positive attitudes and relationships and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging.

4. We observe good equalities practice in staff recruitment, retention and development.

5. We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist.

6. We have the highest expectations of all our children.

Information on pupils by protected characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics. Every person has several of the protected characteristics, so the Act protects everyone against unfair treatment.

In order to ensure that all pupils are protected from discrimination, the school collects information on protected characteristics.

Information on other groups of pupils

In addition to pupils with protected characteristics, we gather further information on the following groups of pupils:

• Pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)
• Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Disadvantaged group
• Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL)
• Young carers
• Looked after children
• Other vulnerable groups

Eliminating discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act

The information provided here aims to demonstrate that we give careful consideration to equality issues in everything that we do at Healdswood Infant & Nursery School. ‘Due regard’ ensures that we work towards eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act.

We are committed to working for equality for all our staff, parents/carers and children to meet our duties under the Equality Act 2010.

We eliminate discrimination by:

• Our behaviour policy ensures that all children feel safe at school and addresses prejudicial bullying
• Reporting, responding to and monitoring all racist incidents
• Regularly monitoring the curriculum to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of our pupils and that it promotes respect for diversity and challenges negative stereotyping
• Teaching is of the highest quality to ensure children reach their potential and all pupils are given equal entitlement to success
• Tracking pupil progress to ensure that all children make rapid progress, and intervening when necessary
• Ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to access extra-curricular provision
• Listening to and monitoring views and experiences of pupils and adults to evaluate the effectiveness of our policies and procedures.

Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

We advance equality of opportunity by:

• Using the information we gather to identify underachieving groups or individuals and plan targeted intervention
• Ensuring participation of  parents/carers and pupils in school development
• Listening to parents/carers
• Listening to pupils at all times

Fostering good relations across all characteristics - between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

We foster good relations by:

• Ensuring that Healdswood Infant & Nursery School is seen as a community school within our local community
• Ensuring that equality and diversity are embedded not only in the curriculum, but in all things that are part of the wider life of the school.  

It is our vision to provide a high quality of education in a caring environment. All children will be encouraged to achieve their full potential and become responsible, independent individuals.

Educational Links

The school has worked hard to develop an exciting and challenging curriculum to ensure that children have a secure grounding in the basic skills whilst also experiencing the breadth of the National Curriculum through a themed and creative approach. At Healdswood Infant & Nursery School: 

• We will enhance the quality of children’s learning through the effective and efficient delivery of a creative curriculum. 
• We will sustain a challenging and professional environment, ensuring enjoyment and excellence.
• We will have consistently high expectations and will meet these with high quality resources and learning strategies. 
• We will enhance self-respect and confidence and encourage children to take responsibility for themselves and their activities. 
• We will work closely with parents and Community, recognising the need for real partnership if we are to maximize children’s development. 
• We will continually seek ways to improve every aspect of the school’s work and life. 

Addressing Prejudice Related Incidents

This school is opposed to all forms of prejudice and we recognise that children and young people who experience any form of prejudice related discrimination may fair less well in the education system.  We provide both our pupils and staff with an awareness of the impact of prejudice in order to prevent any incidents.  If incidents still occur we address them immediately and report them to the Local Authority using their guidance material.  The Local Authority may provide some support.

Responsibility

We believe that promoting Equality is the whole school’s responsibility. We will ensure that the whole school community is aware of our Equality Policy by publishing it on Healdswood Infant & Nursery School website and ensuring access in school.

Breaches

Breaches to this statement will be dealt with in the same ways that breaches of other school policies are dealt with, as determined by the head teacher and governing body.

Monitor and Review

Every three years, we will review our objectives in relation to any changes in our school profile.