An explanation of what is meant by diversity.
In an early years setting as a practitioner you have to make sure children understand each other’s cultures and communities as some children get familiarised with one way of life and respect less other attitudes. The children can do this in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. Diversity is about the understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance and embracing and celebrating the diversity contained within each other. Some of these ways are as follows:-
· Racial - A child that comes from a distinct population with inheritable characteristics, like skin, hair, eye colour, geographical ancestry, and skeletal structure.
· Ethnic - A child who identifies with a common heritage, consisting of a common culture, including a shared language or dialect.
· Gender -Gender identity is the gender a child self-identifies with, regardless of whether they have been born physically as male or female. The ideal logy that Boys should be dressed in blue and do activities like climbing trees, and likewise girls wear pink, and play with doll’s, are long gone thankfully. Each child is treated as an individual and in no way should they be stereotyped into male and female character roles.
· Age - A child must be given the level of care consistent with their age ability, like can they toilet themselves or tie their shoelaces. Also expectations of behaviour should be adapted to their age. You cannot expect a class of 5 year olds to sit still and quiet during a long assembly, without some disruption.
· Physical abilities - Does the child have a developmental or physical problem. If so then we must find ways that their problem should not effect their everyday life, and quality and experience of school life.
· Religious belief -Although we are a faith school, all other popular faiths are discussed during RE