The greatest wealth is sharing:The golden thread of inclusivity Led by: Anne Doerr Deputy Head of Learning Area, Sutton College

• How to build stronger, more enriched learning communities by embracing differences and diversities.

• Case study of creating an Equality and Diversity strategy that is inclusive!

• Make it a golden thread. Tip and hints on how to ensure equality and diversity moves from a tick box exercise to a core deciding factor in all aspects of college life.

Letter to the Times Sat 28th June 2013Sir,Roger Federer was not allowed to wear brilliant orange soles under his trainers ( report June 25). Why then is Serena Williams

permitted to wear brilliant pink pants under her dress?Clare Mclaren , Berkhamsted, Herts

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?Activity

Spend a 2-3 minutes looking at the pictures and captions and match them to the names

As a group draw out 3 main points about Equality and Diversity from theirstories

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Fred AstaireCharles Darwin

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Thomas EdisonLucille Ball

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Walt Disney

Rosa Parks

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Helen Keller

Harrison Ford

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Susan Boyle

Elvis Presley

How can we build up

people who have been put

down?

Sidney Poitier

The Challenge To build a stronger, more enriched learning community by embracing differences and diversities.

The golden thread

SCOLA 2012-2015 Equality Strategy and Action Plan

• Framework for creating equality of opportunity for all our staff and students, which is assisting us in achieving the college strategic aims

• Encourage enthusiasm for lifelong learning• Help people achieve their potential

The golden thread

Single Equalities Act

9 Protected characteristics (a group which is protected from discrimination under equality legislation)

Age Disability Gender reassignment

Marriage or Civil Partnership

Pregnancy and maternity Race

Religion or Belief Sex Sexual Orientation

The golden threadApproach to strategy:

• responsibility is shared • Applies to everyone: staff, learners,

visitors, contractors

• College is committed to encouraging everyone to treat others with respect

• Challenge discriminatory practice or attitudes• Participate in learning which will challenge

them to adopt good practice• Raise awareness of all• Operate fair, open and transparent procedures

for recruitment of staff and learners• Provide training

• Operate fair and transparent assessment processes for learners.

• Promote the use of inclusive language• Introduce and update policies which support

inclusion and diversity • Ensure that all college policies, procedures,

functions, activities, strategies and decisions embed the aims of promoting equality and diversity

• Review performance against the protected characteristics

• Action plan is a “live document”• Equality and Diversity Committee meet termly

to update plan.• Cross-section of employees and also learner

representation on the Committee

The golden thread

Most recent meetings

Included on the agenda:• Process for interviewing students declaring

concerns with mental health.• Report 13/14 course approval • Volunteers in the classroom• Action plan update• Safeguarding

The golden thread

The golden thread

The golden threadSCOLA 2012-2015

Equality Action Plan Contents

• Strategy and policy• The Learner journey• The Staff journey• Services Department• Procurement• Involvement

The golden threadCase Studies

Examples

• Diverse learning achievements showcased at the Adult Learners Award evening May 2013

• Provision for people with mental health difficulties

• Family Learning

Regional Award winners:- Angela Hanken won the NIACE London Senior Learner Award, Sam Keelan was awarded the OCN London Highly Commended Award and Lynn Scarth received a Certificate of Achievement

Family LearningFamily Learning @ SCOLA• The SCOLA Family Learning Team put on

courses which prioritise family adults who do not have Maths and/or English GCSE A-C grade.

We also work with our partnersto prioritise their target families including:• Families with children who are underachieving

or at risk of underachieving• Children eligible for Free School Meals• Families on low incomes• Lone parents• Family adults or children with disabilities• Dads/male carers

Family Learning

Family Learning

Who we work with:

EIPS Home Start

Family Focus

Other partners

Health Visitors SCVS Merton

AE

Children Centres Libraries

Schools

Family LearningCase Study:Kengathevy started with a Family Maths course at SCOLA in 2009. She then went on to do her Level 2 Cache Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce which she completed this year. She has now found employment as a result of the Cache Diploma.

“The family course helped me realise I would like to work. During the Cache course I had a placement at a Children's Centre. Then I got a paid job at the Day Nursery attached to the Centre. The knowledge and understanding I gained from the courses gave me confidence and made the job interview easy.”

Family LearningCase Study:

Michelle attended a Love Literacy accredited course at Green Wrythe Primary. She said, “I LOVED this course. It was informative, inspiring, interactive, fun and interesting, every session….It has really helped me decide I would like to continue with my education, in teaching. I am looking to get into a teacher training course…”

Family LearningCase Study:

Family LearningWhat our partners say about us…

“This course has managed to engage - and sustain engagement - with some of our most vulnerable and hard-to-reach families with amazingly positive results.The programme boosted their sense of self-worth hugely and impacted on their own children's attendance at school which is a significant success.”

Stanley Park Children’s Centre Manager, Love Literacy course

• We have put on targeted courses for groups such as Contact a Family who are an information service who deal with the whole spectrum of disabilities within families.

• We also put on courses with Family Focus and Home Start who support families with children under 5, supporting needy and vulnerable families.

Family LearningHard to reach families…

The golden thread Top tips for making E and D a golden thread

• Draw up Single Equality Checklist for Policies and Practices (see example)

• Make sure:– the Equality Policy sets out the commitment to

promote equality and diversity working in practice.

– proactive and supportive monitoring takes place. This is the key to delivering diversity

• Develop networks and links, and speak to those who don’t access the service and find out why

• Respond and communicate to the learners and have multiple channels to hear their voice

• Ensure staff are recruited fairly• Ensure training and development

opportunities are open to all • Ensure that course entry requirements are fair

and inclusive

The golden thread

Top tips for making E and D a golden thread

The golden thread

• Be sensitive to the concerns, needs and expressed issues• Create an atmosphere of trust, respect and mutuality • Use data to measure the engagement, performance,

progression and attainment of learners and staff against all characteristics

• Be realistic and proactive in addressing differences• Review and monitor policies to determine whether there

are any unintended consequences for some groups and that they are effective for all target groups.

Top tips for making E and D a golden thread

The greatest wealth is

sharingActivities• Share in 3s examples of innovative inclusive

practice• Look at 2 Ofsted Reports where the E and D

has been rated “outstanding”• What can we learn from what we have

shared ?

The greatest wealth is

sharing