Equalities
The Equality Act 2010 has created the ‘Public Sector Equality Duty’ which states that every public body, including schools and academies, have a legal duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share and do not share the following protected characteristics:
- race
- age
- pregnancy or maternity
- disability
- religion or belief
- gender
- gender identity
- sexual orientation
- marriage or civil partnership
As part of our duties we publish:
- an Equalities Information profile of our school based upon the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 – this is updated and published every year
- our school’s Equality Action Plan (Objectives) – these are reviewed annually and updated at least once every 4 years
- for further information please view or download our Equality Diversity & Inclusion Policy and Equality Action Plan in the School Policies section of our website.
Inclusion
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do and we are very proud of our inclusive ethos both currently and historically. (click this bar for further information)
We achieved the Inclusion Quality Mark Centre of Excellence Award in 2024. This is reviewed annually.
As a school we strive to welcome and nurture each child and their family from the moment they arrive. We then try to offer whatever support, guidance and encouragement is needed to ensure children have a happy and successful time at our school. We build very strong relationships with our families, particularly where parents/carers feel they need more support. This includes support for pupils with SEND or for pupils who are in care or have previously been in care.
We have a wide range of opportunities for parents/carers to visit school to join in with their child’s learning experiences and feel like part of our school family. These include parents/carers evenings and workshops, class assemblies, Christmas performances, special breakfasts (around the time of Mothers/Fathers Day but inclusive of all parents/carers/families), coffee afternoons and Sports Days.
School staff, including the Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher, greet children and their families at the school entrances, welcoming them into school with a smile and asking how they are.
Our behaviour policies and procedures are clear, fair and inclusive with a strong focus on celebrating the positives and supporting with the challenges. Our weekly whole school Golden Assemblies celebrate pupil achievements and successes in everything from lovely table manners to helping a friend or improving their handwriting. These assemblies also offer a weekly reinforcement of our values and promote the sense of family and belonging in the school. In the last 17 years we have had no permanent exclusions and very few fixed term exclusions.
We offer a rich curriculum that all pupils have access to, adapting and amending this as needed. We strive to give opportunities for all children to try new things and learn new skills. In addition to our core curriculum, this includes activities such as Forest School, music tuition, Art Gallery and Theatre visits, cooking, being part of the School Choir, outdoor adventure, Life Skills and a wide range of after school activities.
We hold the Rights Respecting Schools Silver award and this work is a crucial element of our inclusive practice with children learning about their rights and how they can uphold these rights, work to bring about change and use their voice, express their views. In addition to this aspect of our provision, our One Britain RSE/PSHE curriculum gives our children the opportunity to engage in a range of activities to promote equality and develop their knowledge and understanding of diversity within our country and community. This is an annual curriculum theme with progression from EYFS to Year 6, allowing pupils to build on the knowledge and understanding that they have gained in previous years.
Emotional well-being is an ever growing focus for us and we do a great deal to support pupils (and staff members where needed) in this area.
We also strive to support and encourage our staff team and make our school a happy and successful place to work. As a result, our school is very stable with very little staff movement.
Inclusive practice and values highlighted in our most recent Ofsted inspection (May 2022) (click this bar for further information)
Teachers help all pupils to succeed. This includes effective support and nurture for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Skilled leadership of this provision enables pupils to learn alongside their peers with confidence.
Learning activities are well matched to pupils’ needs. Leaders’ commitment to inclusivity means no-one misses out on anything the school offers. Strong and trusting relationships are built with parents. This is pivotal to the success of pupils with SEND in school.
Pupils’ all-round development is supported well. Opportunities are offered to visit local theatres and pupils suggest good causes for the ‘Friday fundraiser’. Pupils learn to play a musical instrument, visit art galleries and take part in adventurous outdoor residential trips. Pupils learn about other faiths and cultures. They are aware of fundamental British values such as tolerance and democracy.
Strong leadership from the board of trustees and the local governing board ensures that the well-being and mental health of both pupils and staff are supported. Teachers speak highly of the ways leaders respond to issues raised on workload through staff questionnaires. Leaders work to remove any unnecessary activities and try to ensure staff have a sensible work-life balance.
