04 Oct Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Update
This year, we are really looking forward to engaging with our children, staff and parents to further develop our commitment and focus on being an anti-racist school, alongside the work we are doing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). This work is part of the School Development Plan.
Below is an overview about the work and plans of the DEI working party (currently staff and governors), and information about how we will be celebrating Black History Month at Coleridge.
Communication
We will be sending a half-termly update about all learning, activities and events linked to our DEI work, either that have been going on in school or that you can access out of school. There will also be a new area on the website with information and resources for parents to access.
Children interviewing positive role models
We are planning on having a series of filmed interviews, where a group of children will interview an adult from a diverse background. If you would be willing to take part in this project or know somebody who would be happy to take part, please get in touch. It will be low-key and fun! The children will have thought of some questions they would like to ask; questions about your childhood, where you grew up/went to school, your family, your job, your cultural background, favourite food, hobbies, etc. The interviews will be shared in assemblies and lessons, and with your permission, added to our website.
Diversity Champions and parental involvement
Diversity champions are the parents, grandparents or carers that want to support the school to develop and achieve an inclusive culture in which everyone thrives. How you can help us:
- As a parent/carer you are in a position to get an insight into and highlight any issues that our families might be dealing with.
- You can help the school to understand barriers to inclusion of a particular group and how we might be able to remove them.
- You can help communicate or liaise with the school on behalf of parents who might not feel comfortable or able to do so.
- You can develop links and networks with other parents to make sure their voices are heard and included in the planning and running of the school activities.
Diversity Champions can make suggestions as to what you would like to see the school doing differently or join the extended working group and contribute to the ongoing work of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion team.
Being a Diversity Champion does not need to take a lot of time and there are no specific requirements to be met. You can choose how involved you want to be. If you would like more information about this please get in touch diversity@coleridgeprimary.net and Morinade Akinbobola (who is the lead DEI governor) will get in touch, or you can speak to her if you see her around school.
Inclusive curriculum and investing in diverse resources
We want our curriculum to provide a meaningful education where a sense of identity can develop for all of our children. We will continue to evaluate the curriculum by talking to the children about what they are learning. We have many new books and resources that are written by a diverse range of authors and feature characters that children are able to identify with. We also plan to have more positive imagery around school, involving the children in research about positive role models and making information posters in addition to art work that is created.
If you are interested in being involved in this work, please email diversity@coleridgeprimary.net to get in touch with Morinade Akinbobola or Nina Grimes.
Click here to see our flyer for Black History Month 2021.