Inclusion and Equality Policy

At Little Phoenix Nursery we take great care to treat each individual as a person in their own right, whether an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all staff, children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation has no place within our nursery.

A commitment to implementing our Inclusion and Equality Policy is a part of each employee’s Job Description. Should anyone feel this policy is not being upheld it is their duty to report the matter to the attention of Sarah Moon-Gatford, Nursery Manager at the earliest opportunity. [see staff handbook for next steps/procedure]

The legal framework for this policy is based on:

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 2015
Children and Families Act 2014
Equality Act 2010
Childcare Act 2006
Children Act 2004
Care Standards Act 2002
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Act 2001
Worker Protection Act 2023

As an employer Little Phoenix Nursery is committed to:

Recruiting, selecting, training and promoting individuals on the basis of occupational skill requirements. In this respect, the nursery will ensure that no job applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic.
Creating a working environment free from bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination
Building a workplace in which respect is shown to all, and where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued
Continually improving our knowledge and understanding of issues of equality, inclusion and diversity; training all staff about their rights and responsibilities under the Inclusion & Equality Policy

As an early years provider Little Phoenix nursery is also committed to:

Providing a childcare place for children deemed disadvantaged according to their individual needs
Providing a childcare place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities according to their individual needs
Making reasonable adjustment for children with special educational needs and disabilities to remove barriers and improve access for all
Promoting equal access to all aspects of our provision by taking practical steps where reasonable possible i.e. producing materials in relevant languages, ensuring access for those with additional needs, use of IT systems to share information
Inclusion running through the entirety of Little Phoenix Nursery by:
- promoting positive role models in the toys, play and activities,
- the provision of non-stereotypical/derogatory images, language and other information
- challenging all discriminatory behaviour in an appreciate way according to who displays this [see Dealing with Discriminatory Behaviour Policy]
Providing a secure environment in which all families are listened to; welcoming and valuing the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality, inclusion and diversity.

At Little Phoenix nursery we will regularly review, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive practices to ensure they promote and value diversity and difference and that the policy is effective.

This policy has clear links with the following aspects of our provision:

Admissions
The nursery is accessible to all children and families in the local community and further afield through a comprehensive Admissions Policy. The criteria for Admissions to the nursery apply equally for all children and families.

Employment
Recruitment, promotion and other selection exercises such as redundancy will be conducted on the basis of merit, against objective criteria that avoids discrimination [see Recruitment Procedures, Redundancy Procedure, Staff Performance Framework]

Training
The nursery recognises the importance of training as a key factor in the effectiveness of the Inclusion & Equality Policy. The induction procedure for all new staff specifically references this Inclusion & Equality Policy. An annual refresher of this training features within our whole team training plan.

Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS)
We follow the EYFS statutory requirements and ensure all early learning opportunities in the nursery encourage children to learn positive attitudes to people who are different from them. Our curriculum encourages children to empathise with others and begin to develop the skills of critical thinking.
- Naming a Key Person who is committed to tailoring the care provided to the individual child’s needs, to knowing each child well enough to know how to meet their needs and when they require additional support
- Listening to children’s verbal and non-verbal communication making them feel included, valued, and good about themselves
- Ensuring each child has equal access to early learning opportunities, tailoring these by using our knowledge of what each child knows and ‘can do’
- Supporting children to talk about their feelings and those of others, to manage those feelings and develop empathy
- Ensuring that all early learning opportunities offered are inclusive of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Ensuring that children whose first language is not English have full access to early learning opportunities and their learning is appropriately supported in their learning
- Ensuring the medical, cultural and dietary needs of all children are met and help children to learn about a range of food and cultural approaches to mealtimes and to respect the differences amongst them
- Providing the widest possible range in the choice of resources
- Actively promoting Fundamental British Values, acknowledging and celebrating a wide range of religions, beliefs and festivals; helping children begin to understand their own rights and the rights of others, fostering a culture of mutual respect from the earliest age

Partnership with Parents
We work in partnership with parents helping them understand this policy and we challenge any discriminatory remarks, sharing how exposure to these can influence their child’s view of the world and their interactions with others. Information about their child’s development, nursery activities, events and resources is shared in a variety of ways according to a parent’s individual needs (written, verbal, translated, to ensure that all parents can access the information they need. Wherever possible meetings are arranged to give families opportunities to attend and share information about their child. [see Partnership with Parents Policy]