Understand the Importance of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

SHC 33
1.1.1

Diversity
It means acceptance, respect and understanding that each individual is unique and that we tolerate our individual differences.
For example gender, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, ethnicity, religious or politic believes.
Equality
Its basically equal rights for people whatever difference they are . At schools, even nurseries children and young pupil are wearing same uniforms, so their financial background doesn’t affect them.
Inclusion
It is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers, being included in the group. It’s the belief that all people should feel that they are included in society even if they lack some advantages.

1.1.2

Direct discrimination – this happens when a person is treated less favourably than others, for example, refusing to enrol a child in a nursery because they are black.
Indirect discrimination – this is when a condition applies to all, but the group of people who can apply is significantly smaller. For example, insisting someone is a particular high, or another example would be an employer looking for a nanny, but refusing to interview male nanny even tho, he has enough experience and qualification. Positive discrimination – this happens when someone receives more favourable treatment because of their sex or race. For example, if a childminder/nursery with few ethnic minority children decides to enrol only black children to increase number.
Labelling – to describe someone with particular word or phrase, for example, lazy child, clever boy etc.
Prejudice – a judgement or opinion, that is often negative, of a person or group, made without careful consideration of all information, which may lead to the view that some people are unsupportive to other human beings. If a family is not a two-parent nuclear family, with parents of different genders and the same ethnicity, it is ‘not normal’
When children experience prejudiced attitudes, there is danger of damage to their self-esteem and self-confidence even it can affect their development. Even very young children can experience discrimination against colour of their skin and other aspects of their ethnicity, traditions and way of life of their family, culture and religion, disability, social background even of their family.
When children are discriminated they are harmed and they do not have the chance to fulfil their potential. They also do not progress and experience success in their lives, also they may lose motivation to learn. They are unable to develop their talents and are not able to make their full contribution to society later in life.

1.1.3

Inclusive practice supports and promotes both diversity and equality by working to welcome everyone regardless of culture, background, social factors, gender, any form of disability or mobility restriction. This open approach helps to break down the barriers that might prevent participation.
Inclusive practice sees each child and their family as individuals enabling a setting to plan what it provides to meet individual needs appropriately.
I found it important that children I am looking after are open minded and not judgmental to new things just because it’s something unknown for them. I want to help them to understand that there is lots of differences between us, but we can also benefit from them.
We were talking about different countries, their traditions the way their dress and tried to explore different taste of the meals. We talked about “colour” of the people, that just because somebody is black, they don’t taste like chocolate. That different parts of clothes may be affected by the religion of that certain person. We found lots of picture books in the library that helped children to understand and imagine all those things. Why do Arab woman cower their hair, Jewish men have long hair curl, woman from India have “bindi” red dot between their eyebrows as many more.
Also we tried to prepare some Chinese, Indian, Hungarian, Italian and Slovak traditional meals and children were excited about preparing Mexican wraps by them self.

We talked about people’s handicaps and different things they are using to help them, from simple glasses to guide dogs, walking sticks for elderly, hearing aid for deaf and wheelchairs for people unable to move. And to make them understand that just because they are different, there is no need to make them centre of their attention or laughter as some may do. But simply to show their respect and be considerate, because they don’t know what that child or adult been thru and they may hurt their feelings.