The greatest wealth is sharing: The golden thread of inclusivity Led by: Anne Doerr

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

2. 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.

3. Letter to the Times Sat 28th June 2013 • Sir, • 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

4. 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 their stories

5. How can we build up people who have been put down? Fred Astaire Charles Darwin

6. How can we build up people who have been put down? Lucille Ball Thomas Edison

7. How can we build up people who have been put down? Rosa Parks Walt Disney

8. How can we build up people who have been put down? Helen Keller Harrison Ford

9. How can we build up people who have been put down? Elvis Presley Susan Boyle

10. How can we build up people who have been put down? Sidney Poitier

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

12. SCOLA 2012-2015 Equality Strategy and Action Plan The golden thread • 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

14. Single Equalities Act The golden thread 9 Protected characteristics (a group which is protected from discrimination under equality legislation) Disability Age Gender reassignment Pregnancy and maternity Marriage or Civil Partnership Race Sex Religion or Belief Sexual Orientation

15. Approach to strategy: The golden thread • responsibility is shared • Applies to everyone: staff, learners, visitors, contractors

16. 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

17. 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

18. The golden thread • 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

19. Most recent meetings The golden thread 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

20. SCOLA 2012-2015 Equality Action Plan Contents The golden thread The golden thread • Strategy and policy • The Learner journey • The Staff journey • Services Department • Procurement • Involvement

21. Case Studies The golden thread Examples • Diverse learning achievements showcased at the Adult Learners Award evening May 2013 • Provision for people with mental health difficulties • Family Learning

22. 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

23. Family Learning @ SCOLA Family Learning • The SCOLA Family Learning Team put on courses which prioritise family adults who do not have Maths and/or English GCSE A-C grade.

24. We also work with our partnersto prioritise their target families including: Family Learning • 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

25. Who we work with: Family Learning Schools Children Centres Libraries Health Visitors SCVS Merton AE Other partners EIPS Home Start Family Focus

26. Case Study: Family Learning 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.

27. Case Study: Family Learning “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.”

28. Case Study: Family Learning 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…” 

29. What our partners say about us… Family Learning “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 hugelyand impacted on their own children's attendance at school which is a significant success.” Stanley Park Children’s Centre Manager, Love Literacy course

30. Family Learning Hard to reach families… • 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.

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

32. Top tips for making E and D a golden thread The golden thread • 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

33. 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.

34. The greatest wealth is sharing Activities • 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 ?

35. The greatest wealth is sharing