St. Elizabeth’s School
Equal Opportunities / Equality and Diversity
“Our school community is together to make the world a better place for
all”
Definition: The School promotes Equal Opportunities for pupils, students
and staff and strives to create an environment built on fairness, dignity and
respect without barriers related to age, race, gender, religion and belief,
disability or sexual orientation.
Equality means: treating people with fairness and ensuring everyone has
equal opportunity to access services, jobs and training.
Diversity means: welcoming, embracing and encouraging the differences
between individuals and groups.
Aims:
 The School will promote equality of opportunity for pupils, students,
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visitors and employees so that individuals and groups can maximise
their achievements irrespective of their age, socio-economic
background, race, cultural background, religion, abilities, gender or
sexuality.
All pupils / students will have access to an inclusive curriculum that is
appropriate to their interests, learning styles and ability.
Pupils are guided to develop an awareness of other cultures, beliefs,
people with disabilities and ages.
All pupils / students will have an Individual Care Plan that recognises
their uniqueness and provides a care approach that takes into account
their needs and wishes.
All pupils / students have assess to tailored health care that is
overseen and monitored by the School Nursing Team
All pupils / students will have access to Therapy and Psychology
services appropriate to their needs and abilities.
Pupils, Students and Staff live, learn and work in a community that is
free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
Pupils, Students and Staff are treated fairly. Decisions concerning
individuals and the organisation are based on objective and relevant
criteria that can be evidenced.
Guidance and Practice:
Please refer to
St Elizabeth’s Centre Equality and Diversity policy
And St Elizabeth’s Centre Mission Statement
(Part of Policy File)
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Admission
Decisions regarding admissions to the School are based on whether the
school is able to meet the Statemented needs of the young person.
Information taken in regards to the young person’s age, race, gender, religion
and belief, disability and any support needs are sought only for the purposes
of providing appropriate support and for monitoring purposes.
Young people and their families can expect professional support throughout
the admission process which in no way discriminates against any individual or
group.
The preferences, needs and views of the young person and their family will be
sought during the admission process.
St Elizabeth’s School, reserves the right to refuse a placement if it considers
that in meeting the needs of the young person, the physical or emotional well
being of other pupils / students could be exposed to unreasonable risk.
The Governing Body receive a report on referral and admission patterns half
termly.
Access to Waking Day Learning and Leisure Opportunities
St Elizabeth’s School is committed to Inclusive Learning which recognises
that all our pupils / students are individuals with different learning styles and
support needs.
The School will seek to provide a diverse range of learning opportunities to
facilitate access and achievement for pupils and students by regularly
reviewing curriculum content, delivery, accessibility, support, achievement
and progress.
Learning in the classrooms and residential houses will be relevant and linked
to the needs and interests of pupils and students.
Staff will endeavour to find solutions to problems of access and other issues
which present a barrier to learning.
Pupils / Students will have access to a variety of leisure activities that takes
into account their interests and hobbies. As much choice as is reasonably
practical will be offered.
Care Planning
We are committed to providing individualised packages of care.
Care Plans will be flexible and meet the assessed needs of the individual as
long as this does not cause detriment to others’.
Living arrangements, furniture and fittings have been adapted to make the
boarding experience accessible / achievable for pupils with specific needs.
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All aspects of what we do is tailored to the individual including care plans,
ILPs, behaviour programmes, risk assessments, sanctions, rewards, menus,
activity programmes, contact with families and mealtime routines.
Food choice and preparation is planed to ensure that we can meet all cultural
needs and preferences. All pupil / students will be encouraged to follow a
healthy balanced diet with a reasonable amount of choice included.
It is the responsibility of each staff group to ensure that each pupil / student
gets the individual time and attention that is his/her right within the staffing
ratio.
Pupil / Student expectations
During direct work with young people, staff will lead by example, challenge
inappropriate behaviour and attitudes and positively promote equality and
diversity.
Topics and issues in relation to differences and preferences will be discussed
openly with the young people during formal lesson times and informal leisure
times.
Race Equality
Legislation
The Race Relations Act 1976
Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
The law gives all public bodies a general duty to promote Race Equality.
Under this duty we must
 Eliminate Unlawful Discrimination
 Promote Equality of Opportunity
 Promote good relations between people of different racial groups.
Disability Equality
Legislation
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005
The law places a general duty on all public authorities to promote disability
equality.
The School in carrying out its functions, agrees to have due regard to the
need to
 Eliminate Unlawful Discrimination
 Eliminate disability related harassment
 Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other
people.
 Promote positive attitudes to disabled people.
 Encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
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Gender Equality
Legislation
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Gender Equality Duty 2007
The law requires public authorities to comply with a general duty to eliminate
discrimination and harassment and proactively promote gender equality.
It also places an obligation on employers to pay equal wages to men and
women carrying out the same role.
Staff Expectations
All staff are expected to promote this policy throughout their daily work role
and challenge any forms of discrimination.
All staff are expected to complete training Equality and Diversity matters.
Orientation and Induction training will highlight the Centre’s commitment to
Equality and Diversity.
Complaints / Concerns
Any individual who feels she/he is being discriminated against for reasons of
age, race, gender, religion and belief, disability, sexual orientation are is able
to raise the matter with one of the following:
Pupil / Student
 Personal Helper
 Family
 Social worker
 Independent Support Worker
 Any member of the Senior Care Team
 Any member of the School Leadership Team
Pupils / Students may need help to express their concerns and should be
encouraged to use the school worries and complaints policy. It is staff
responsibility to facilitate this.
The school has a system to ensure that the well being of young people who
have limited communication is overseen
Staff Member
 Line Manager
 Any member of the School Leadership Team
 Any member of the Senior Care Team
 Director of Human Resources and Staff Development
Staff are able to use the School Compliments, Worries, Complaints and
Appeals Procedure or the Centre Grievance Procedure.
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Celebration
Celebration is at the heart of St Elizabeth’s School.
Pupil /Students and Staff will be encouraged to acknowledge and celebrate
differences.
St Elizabeth’s School provides a service for and employs a diverse group of
people. Every year, volunteers from all around the world join the school for a
year’s placement. As a community, pupils, students, volunteers and staff learn
from each other and complement one another’s’ contributions to the school.
We recognise and celebrate special days from many faiths throughout the
year.
Future Developments
In 2010, St Elizabeth’s School Disability Equality Scheme (Access Plan) is in
the process of review.
An Equality and Diversity working party, led by the Equality and Diversity
Governor will review the Disability Equality Scheme as part of developing a
Single Equality Scheme.
As part of this process, this policy will be reviewed annually.
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