Unit 204 Equality And Diversity
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Unit 204 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in work with children and young people
Identify the current legislation and codes of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity.
Equality is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the areas described above. Bullying, harassment or victimization are also considered forms of equality and diversity issues.
Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people? differences to contribute and realise their full potential by promoting …show more content…
an inclusive culture for all staff and students. It is a legal duty that each school must produce a range of policies which formally sets out the guidelines and procedures for ensuring equality. These must take into account the rights of all individuals and groups within the school. Policies may also extend to all aspects of school life, and not just what happens in the classroom.
The rights of all children and young people are stated in the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child (1989) which was ratified in the UK in 1991 , this ensures that the rights of children in the UK are protected through law. These rights are all encompassing and include the right to an education and the right to have their views respected. The basis of law that underpins the government statutory code of practice and frameworks, school policies and procedures relating to equal opportunity and inclusive practice that in the role of a TA (Teaching Assistant) needs to be aware of and understand the six areas of diversity in law are disability, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and religion / belief. Discrimination is forbidden in these areas, enforced by legislation including:
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (amended 2005)
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Race Relations Act 1976 (amended 2000)
Human Rights Act 1998
Equal Opportunities Act 2010
Children's Act 1989 (amended 2004)
SENDA Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
Education Act 1996
Equality Act 2010
Thus on a day to day level as a TA (Teaching Assistant) can promote equality and diversity by:
Treating all staff and students fairly.
Creating an inclusive culture for all staff and students.
Ensuring equal access to opportunities to enable children/young people to fully participate in the learning process.
Enabling all staff and pupils to develop to their full potential.
Equipping staff and students with the skills to challenge inequality and discrimination in their work/study environment.
Making certain that any learning materials do not discriminate against any individuals or groups.
1.2 Describe the importance of supporting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access.
Participation involves: asking children and young people what works, what doesn't work and what could work better; and involving them in the design,delivery and evaluation of services, on an ongoing basis.
Equality of access: ensuring that discriminatory barriers to access are removed and allowing for children and young peoplesindividual needs. Anti-discriminatory practice:taking positive action to counter discrimination. This will involve identifying and challenging discrimination and being positive in own practice about differences and similarities between people Inclusion: a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and …show more content…
belonging.
All children/young people have the right to a wide range and balanced syllabus, supported by high quality teaching and learning experiences. Schools have a duty to ensure that all pupils have equal access to the curriculum irrespective of their background, race culture, gender, additional needs or disability. Policies on inclusion and equality of access, can only be successful if they help to increase performance and promote self-identity and positive relationships through participation of all children and young people.
Participation includes everyone within the school. There should be opportunities to speak to pupils and their parents about all aspects of the school and the curriculum. Participation can be realised formally by parents meetings or student councils. It may also take place in the classroom when children/young people can be asked about how they learn best, what works for them and what could be improved.
Furthering equality of access to the curriculum as a TA (Teaching Assistant) can increase the personal achievement of children/young people.
For example studies have shown that some groups of children do not meet their expected levels of attainment,. The attainment gap between the poorest and richest children, which has been described as "the devil in our education system", A pupil on free school meals (a measure of poverty) was still less than half as likely to succeed at every level at school than their classmate who was not on free school meals. These finding came from a paper ?reaking the Link published 2009 by the Department for Children,Schools and Families. It also states that while black pupils have made faster progress in recent years, they still lag behind the average pupil. The report concludes that teaching staff should know which pupils are most in need, and that everything should be done to break the long standing link between deprivation, black and minority ethnic groups and poor attainment that has scarred the UK for many decades. Thus the greatest challenge, was found in schools where average results are good, and there are fewer free school meals pupils, but where the attainment gap is the biggest of all. Therefore in conclusion, equal opportunities does not mean treating pupils the same, but ensuring that the teaching staff deliver the curriculum that meets the individual needs of all pupils, so as to allow them to realise their
potential.
1.3 Describe the Importance and benefits of Valuing and promoting cultural diversity in work with children and young people.
Where cultural diversity is only acknowledged as a symbolic gestures through posters, or at only particular times of the year through festival, this can be construed as ?okenism Promoting an understanding of cultural diversity, can help to prevent stereotyping and reduce prejudice and discrimination within a school. Factors that can be barriers to a successful learning environment for children/young people, and hinder pupils from realising their full academic potential.
Identifying and encouraging the cultural diversity of pupils and groups within a school setting, can enrich the learning and promote the knowledge and understanding of all children/young people. You will be able to help pupils make sense of their learning by making connections to their own lives. As a TA (Teaching Assistant) you may work with children who are bilingual, and English is not their primary language. It is important for schools to nurture and embrace the bilingual or multilingual skills of pupils. It is essential as a TA (Teaching Assistant) to recognise and reflect diverse cultures within the curriculum that is taught to the pupils. For example, incorporating music, foods, stories and drama from a range of cultures will contribute to a rich syllabus but this will also support and underpin the pupils to explore and understand cultures which are different from their own.
Unit 204 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in work with children and young people
Identify the current legislation and codes of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity.
Equality is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the areas described above. Bullying, harassment or victimization are also considered forms of equality and diversity issues.
Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people? differences to contribute and realise their full potential by promoting …show more content…
an inclusive culture for all staff and students. It is a legal duty that each school must produce a range of policies which formally sets out the guidelines and procedures for ensuring equality. These must take into account the rights of all individuals and groups within the school. Policies may also extend to all aspects of school life, and not just what happens in the classroom.
The rights of all children and young people are stated in the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child (1989) which was ratified in the UK in 1991 , this ensures that the rights of children in the UK are protected through law. These rights are all encompassing and include the right to an education and the right to have their views respected. The basis of law that underpins the government statutory code of practice and frameworks, school policies and procedures relating to equal opportunity and inclusive practice that in the role of a TA (Teaching Assistant) needs to be aware of and understand the six areas of diversity in law are disability, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and religion / belief. Discrimination is forbidden in these areas, enforced by legislation including:
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (amended 2005)
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Race Relations Act 1976 (amended 2000)
Human Rights Act 1998
Equal Opportunities Act 2010
Children's Act 1989 (amended 2004)
SENDA Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
Education Act 1996
Equality Act 2010
Thus on a day to day level as a TA (Teaching Assistant) can promote equality and diversity by:
Treating all staff and students fairly.
Creating an inclusive culture for all staff and students.
Ensuring equal access to opportunities to enable children/young people to fully participate in the learning process.
Enabling all staff and pupils to develop to their full potential.
Equipping staff and students with the skills to challenge inequality and discrimination in their work/study environment.
Making certain that any learning materials do not discriminate against any individuals or groups.
1.2 Describe the importance of supporting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access.
Participation involves: asking children and young people what works, what doesn't work and what could work better; and involving them in the design,delivery and evaluation of services, on an ongoing basis.
Equality of access: ensuring that discriminatory barriers to access are removed and allowing for children and young peoplesindividual needs. Anti-discriminatory practice:taking positive action to counter discrimination. This will involve identifying and challenging discrimination and being positive in own practice about differences and similarities between people Inclusion: a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and …show more content…
belonging.
All children/young people have the right to a wide range and balanced syllabus, supported by high quality teaching and learning experiences. Schools have a duty to ensure that all pupils have equal access to the curriculum irrespective of their background, race culture, gender, additional needs or disability. Policies on inclusion and equality of access, can only be successful if they help to increase performance and promote self-identity and positive relationships through participation of all children and young people.
Participation includes everyone within the school. There should be opportunities to speak to pupils and their parents about all aspects of the school and the curriculum. Participation can be realised formally by parents meetings or student councils. It may also take place in the classroom when children/young people can be asked about how they learn best, what works for them and what could be improved.
Furthering equality of access to the curriculum as a TA (Teaching Assistant) can increase the personal achievement of children/young people.
For example studies have shown that some groups of children do not meet their expected levels of attainment,. The attainment gap between the poorest and richest children, which has been described as "the devil in our education system", A pupil on free school meals (a measure of poverty) was still less than half as likely to succeed at every level at school than their classmate who was not on free school meals. These finding came from a paper ?reaking the Link published 2009 by the Department for Children,Schools and Families. It also states that while black pupils have made faster progress in recent years, they still lag behind the average pupil. The report concludes that teaching staff should know which pupils are most in need, and that everything should be done to break the long standing link between deprivation, black and minority ethnic groups and poor attainment that has scarred the UK for many decades. Thus the greatest challenge, was found in schools where average results are good, and there are fewer free school meals pupils, but where the attainment gap is the biggest of all. Therefore in conclusion, equal opportunities does not mean treating pupils the same, but ensuring that the teaching staff deliver the curriculum that meets the individual needs of all pupils, so as to allow them to realise their
potential.
1.3 Describe the Importance and benefits of Valuing and promoting cultural diversity in work with children and young people.
Where cultural diversity is only acknowledged as a symbolic gestures through posters, or at only particular times of the year through festival, this can be construed as ?okenism Promoting an understanding of cultural diversity, can help to prevent stereotyping and reduce prejudice and discrimination within a school. Factors that can be barriers to a successful learning environment for children/young people, and hinder pupils from realising their full academic potential.
Identifying and encouraging the cultural diversity of pupils and groups within a school setting, can enrich the learning and promote the knowledge and understanding of all children/young people. You will be able to help pupils make sense of their learning by making connections to their own lives. As a TA (Teaching Assistant) you may work with children who are bilingual, and English is not their primary language. It is important for schools to nurture and embrace the bilingual or multilingual skills of pupils. It is essential as a TA (Teaching Assistant) to recognise and reflect diverse cultures within the curriculum that is taught to the pupils. For example, incorporating music, foods, stories and drama from a range of cultures will contribute to a rich syllabus but this will also support and underpin the pupils to explore and understand cultures which are different from their own.