Statement of Intent

The Ark Nursery School is committed towards providing equal opportunities for children and their families and takes positive action to eliminate discrimination in all areas of its work.

 

Aim

We believe that the nursery school should be open to all children and families, and to all adults committed to their education and care.  We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in the Nursery School have an equal opportunity to do so.

 

Methods

The Ark Nursery School has a nominated person with responsibility for Equal Opportunities, Mrs Lyn Turner, who ensures that the Nursery School works in accordance with all the relevant legislation, including:

 

  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
  • Race Relations Amendment Act 2000
  • Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  • Children Act 1989
  • Data Protection Act 1998
  • Sex Discrimination Act 1986

 

The Nursery School is open for every family in the community.

 

Children with special educational needs will be supported by all members of staff and the SENCO, Mrs Mary Pond, who will assess their needs and make appropriate arrangement for these to be met in accordance with the Special Educational Needs Policy.

 

Families joining the nursery school are given a copy of the policy and procedures to read.  The policies are reviewed annually and copies are permanently available.

 

Vacancies will be advertised.  The Nursery School will appoint the best person for each job and will treat fairly all applicants for jobs and all those appointed.

Commitment to the groups Equal Opportunities Policy will form part of the contract for all workers.

 

Our aim is to show respectful awareness of all the major events in the lives of the children and families attending the Nursery School, in our society as a whole and to welcome the diversity of backgrounds from which they come.

 

Children and their families, who celebrate at home, festivals with which the rest of the Nursery School is not familiar, will be invited to share their festival with the rest of the Nursery School if they wish to do so.

 

Children will be encouraged to participate in a range of different festivals, together with the stories, celebrations, special food and clothing they involve, as part of the diversity of life.

 

All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured.

 

Activities and the use of play equipment will offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination.  Management of resources within the pre-school will ensure that both girls and boys have full access to all kinds of activities and equipment and are equally encouraged to enjoy and learn from them.  Appropriate opportunities will be given to children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others.

 

The Nursery School recognises that children have a wide range of needs which differ from time to time, and will consider what part it can play in meeting these needs as they arise.

 

Planning for Nursery School meetings and events will take into account of needs of people with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

Any discriminatory language, behaviour or remarks made by children, parents or any other adults will be considered unacceptable within the setting.  Our response will aim to demonstrate support for the victim(s), to help those responsible to understand and overcome their prejudices and to make it clear that such behaviour/remarks will not be tolerated.

 

Basic information, written and spoken, will be clearly communicated in as many languages as are necessary and possible.

 

Bilingual/multilingual children and adults are an asset to the whole group.  Parents will be encouraged to speak to children in their first language at home.  Children and parents who have English as a second or additional language will be valued and their language recognised and respected in the Nursery School.

 

Working in partnership with parents, children’s medical, cultural and dietary needs will be met.

 

The Nursery School will make every effort to ensure that the time, place and conduct of meetings enable the majority of parents to attend, so that all families have an equal opportunity to be involved and informed about the events, and activities within the Nursery School.

 

In addition to these meetings, parents can access information from the nursery website and a half-termly newsletter will be distributed among parents, carers and staff.