Equality and diversity

Equality and diversity are key threads to our curriculum and an important element of school life.

We explore concepts of equality and diversity at all levels throughout the school. Teachers and adults work hard to ensure that all children have the time, opportunity and safe space to talk about social justice issues and empathise with people of other cultures, nationalities, religions and lifestyles as embodied by our Relationships Education policy. It is important to us that these topics are explored with the children, in a sensitive and appropriate way, as part of our everyday curriculum but also in response to events happening around the world that they may be aware of in the news.

Our school staff will ensure that all conversations around these matters are managed carefully and sensitively. However, we want the children to engage with difficult questions and have a time and space within school to speak freely and openly. Some children may come home with questions or points they would like to discuss with you, and we would encourage you to, within reason, answer them openly and honestly. Below we have published a list of useful books and online resources for parents who would like some support discussing these matters with the children, but please get in touch with us if you would like any additional guidance.

The school Equality Policy and Equality Objectives can be found in the Policies section of the website.

Equality Resources for Parents:

Black Rights

Website Links

Sesame Street: Lupita Nyong’o Loves Her Skin: https://safeYouTube.net/w/Cxqbb (Early Years/KS1)
Sesame Street: What Makes you Special?: https://safeYouTube.net/w/d1qbb (Early Years/KS1)
Blue Peter video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LLBDsVREaI (KS2)
CBBC News round Resources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround#more-stories-4 (KS1/KS2)

Books

A Is For Activist by Innosanto Nagara (picture book)
Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour
Brick by Brick by Giuliano Ferri (board book)
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch (6–8 years)
Don't Touch My Hair! By Sharee Miller
The Skin I’m In by Pat Thomas
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford (6–10 years)
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (4–8 years)
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin (4–8 years)

Other Resources

A Kids book about racism, by Jelani Memory. Read aloud by the author: https://safeYouTube.net/w/1cwbb
Same Difference (A Children's Book Story by Calida Rawles):https://safeYouTube.net/w/4hxbb
Hair Love (Disney Short): This short film looks at a family as the father tries to learn how to style his daughters afro. The film is a good resource for discussions about appearances, and stimulus for conversations about textured afro hair.

Women’s Rights

Website Links

https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/the-suffragettes
Who was Emmeline Pankhurst? | BBC Teach: https://safeYouTube.net/w/l81bb
What did the Suffragettes do for you? A short animation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05x6040
https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/short-stories/emmeline-pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst A short animation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zd8fv9q/articles/zh7kdxs
News round, Who Were the Suffragettes?: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22766676

Books

Suffragette the Battle for Equality by David Roberts: KS2
Emmeline: (Pankhurst) (First Names) by Haydn Kaye: KS2
Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst: KS2
Imagine you were there... Winning the Vote for Women: KS2
My Best Friend the Suffragette by Sally Morgan: KS2
Comic Style Story: Women in Battle by Marta Breen & Jenny Jordahl: KS2
Girls Can do Anything by Caryl Hart: KS1
I Can be Anything I Want to Be (A Colouring Book for Girls) by Paper Sparkles Press

Other Resources