Equality and Access

Our vision is for the Uplands Community to be a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment for pupils, staff, parents and visitors.

The Governing Board of Uplands Primary School and Nursery adheres to the recommendations outlined in the Equality Act 2010. Uplands Primary School and Nursery will, through its Equality Duty and Equality Objectives, identify and record the progress we have made towards achieving equality and tackling discrimination, taking into consideration the views of those affected by inequality, including staff, parents/carers, governors and pupils. It will be undertaken in partnership with the school’s community and local authority.

The Equality Act 2010 provides a single, consolidated source of discrimination law, covering all the types of discrimination that are unlawful. A copy of the Equality Act 2010 can be viewed here, with guidance for schools found here.

The Public Sector Equality Duty has three aims under the general duty for schools, as referenced in the Equality Act 2010:

• Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
• Foster good relations across all characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

To ensure that Uplands meets the obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, we are required to comply with the following specific duties:

• To publish information to demonstrate how we are complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty
• Prepare and publish equality objectives.

Our Equality Governor is Mr Dan Swanton.

In order to fulfil our aim of providing all pupils with the opportunity to succeed and reach the highest level of personal achievement, Uplands will:

• Use contextual data to improve its support to individuals and groups of pupils
• Monitor achievement data by ethnicity, gender and disability, and action any gaps
• Consider the achievement of all pupils when planning for future learning and setting challenging targets, including those with protected characteristics, as outlined in Appendix I
• Ensure equality for all pupils and prepare them for life in a diverse society
• Seek to involve all parents/carers in supporting their children’s education
• Use materials that reflect the diversity of the school, population and local community in terms of race, gender, disability, sex, sexual orientation religion and belief, without stereotyping
• Promote attitudes and values that will challenge discriminatory behaviour or prejudice
• Provide opportunities for pupils to appreciate their own culture and celebrate the diversity or other cultures
• Consult and involve those pupils affected by inequality.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies and guidance:

• Accessibility Plan.
• Anti-Bullying Policy.
• Behaviour Policy.
• Collective Worship Policy.
• Inclusion Policy.
• Intimate Care Policy.
• SEND Policy.
• Relationships and Sex Education Policy.
• Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Policy.
• Teaching and Learning Policy.

The Equality Duty is reviewed at the end of each academic year. Data relating to this plan is analysed and shared with staff and governors. Any gaps identified are addressed through monitoring the quality of teaching, provision, support groups, pupil progress meetings and data analysis (such as ASP and FFT). Any data relating to an individual pupil remains confidential.

Parents and carers will be kept informed of their own child’s progress and achievement through Parents’ Evening consultations and the written annual report. Parents can request an update on their child’s progress at any point during the year. The Equality Duty is published on our website, here, in conjunction with the Equality Objectives.