Anti-Racism Policy

This policy reflects our collective commitment to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination in our preschool. It applies to all employees, children and volunteers and has implications for our preschool school community

BritAcademy rejects all forms of racism. We are committed to the elimination of racial discrimination in our preschool – including direct and indirect racism, racial vilification and harassment – in all aspects of our learning and working environment. No child, employee, parent, caregiver or community member should experience racism within the learning or working environment of our preschool.

Eradicating expressions of racism in learning and working environments, and challenging the attitudes that allow them to emerge, is the shared responsibility of all preschool staff. All teaching and non-teaching staff contribute to the eradication of racism .

Strategies What will we do?

•  We will engage in partnerships with all stakeholders to embrace and embed this anti-racism policy in all aspects of service provision.
•  This policy will actively inform induction for employees, committee members, students and volunteers.
•  We will engage pedagogical conversations that embrace the principles of, anti-bias, anti-racism and social justice which shape the way teachers/educators teach, think and reflect.
• Provide learning experiences and curriculum decision making that challenges bias and actively embraces diversity.

•  Provide timely and professional response to complaints regarding racism.

•  Actively implement and monitor this policy.
•  Develop and embed anti-racism strategies in all aspects of curriculum making and service provision
•  Provide opportunities for pedagogical conversations that embrace the principles of anti-bias, anti-racism and social justice. 

Key-workers will:

•  Monitor their own behaviour to ensure that it does not result in anyone experiencing racism.
•  Support children to develop an understanding of racism and discrimination and the impact on individuals and the broader community.
•  Implement and document anti-racism education strategies in our preschool curriculum.
•  Encourage and support children to interact peacefully and collaboratively, express empathy for others.
•  Actively challenge bias and promote empowerment.
•  Provide learning experiences and resources to provoke thinking and actively challenge bias

Families and staff are essential stakeholders in the policy review process and will be given opportunity and encouragement to be actively involved.

Procedure

• The preschool staff will inform the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) Andra, if they witness an incident of racism at the preschool.
• Children will be encouraged to report any incidents of alleged racism immediately and will be reassured that what they say will be taken seriously and handled sensitively.
• If a child or preschool staff member tells someone they are being bullied, they will be given the time to explain what has happened and reassured that they were right to tell.
• The DSL will always ask the alleged racist to explain their side and take into account their response when deciding whether racism has occurred.
• If it is decided that racism behaviour has occurred then in most cases, the behaviour can be addressed by using the procedures laid out in our behaviour policy. The alleged racist will be encouraged to discuss their behaviour and think through the consequences of their actions. Where appropriate, they will be encouraged to talk through the incident with the other person/people involved.
• We will inform the parents of all children involved in the alleged racism incidents at the earliest opportunity.

• All children involved in any racism incident will be offered support.
• Where racist behaviour persists, the alleged racist’s parents will receive a written warning that the child must stop this behaviour.
• If racism continues the alleged racist’s parents will receive a final written warning that suspension or exclusion will occur from the preschool if the behaviour does not stop.
• As a final option, if racist behaviour still continues the alleged racist will be excluded from attending the preschool for a set period of time as decided by the preschool.
• After the incident has been dealt with, the preschool staff will monitor the children involved to ensure further problems do not occur.