The Pre-school Learning Alliance is committed to helping pre-schools provide equality of opportunity for all children and families. As a member of the Alliance, Moulton Pre-School works in accordance with all relevant legislation.

We believe that the group’s activities should be open to all children and families and to all adults committed to their welfare. We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in, or volunteer to help with, our Pre-School have an equal chance to do so.
We have a named equal needs co-ordinator.

Admissions
The Pre-School is open to every family in the community. The waiting list is operated by date of birth. We aim to offer each child on the waiting list at least one but preferably two sessions beginning in the term in which the child is 3 years of age.
Families joining the Pre-school are made aware of its equal opportunities policy.

Employment
The Pre-School will appoint the best person for each job and will treat fairly all applicants for jobs and all those appointed.
Commitment to implementing the group’s Equal Opportunities Policy will form part of the job description for all workers.

Families
The Pre-School recognises that many different types of family successfully love and care for children.

In circumstances where the parents separate, we respectfully bring to your attention that legally, unless there is a restraining order issued by a court, we cannot refuse to release the child to the care of the absent parent provided that they are named on the registration form. Any such matters can obviously be discussed with the supervisor and will be treated with absolute confidentiality.

Festivals
Our aim is to show respectful awareness of all the major events in the lives of the children and families in the Pre-school, and in our society as a whole, and to welcome the diversity of backgrounds from which they come.
In order to achieve this, we aim to acknowledge all the festivals which are celebrated in our area and/or by the families involved in the Pre-School.

The Curriculum

All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured. Activities and the use of play equipment offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination. Appropriate opportunities will be give to children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others, and feature positive images of people both male and female from a range of ethnic and cultural groups with and without disability.

Resources

These will be chosen to give children a balanced view of the world and an appreciation of the rich diversity of our multi-racial society.

Materials will be selected to help children to develop their self-respect and to respect other people by avoiding stereotypes and derogatory pictures or messages about any group of people.

Looked after Children (Children under care of Local Authority)

As a legal requirement ALL looked after children should have a personal educational plan, (PEP) in place. Our named Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) together with other outside professionals, ie. foster carer, social worker and parents will be involved in the writing, implementation and the review of the PEPs, these will generally be reviewed every six months. PEP’s will run alongside any relevant Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children with any special educational needs.

Special Needs

The Pre-School recognises the wide range of special needs of children and families in the community, and will consider what part it can play in meeting these needs.

Planning for Pre-School meetings and events will take into account the needs of people with disabilities.

Discriminatory Behaviour/Remarks

These are unacceptable in the Pre-School.

The response will aim to be sensitive to the feelings of the victim(s) and to help those responsible to understand and overcome their prejudices.

Language

Information, written and spoken, will be clearly communicated.

Bilingual/multilingual children and adults are an asset. They will be valued and their languages recognized and respected in the Pre-School.

Meetings

The time, place and conduct of meetings will ensure that all families have an equal opportunity to be involved in the running of the Pre-School.