The equality act

[Mogandme]

I am trying to write an essay on how the Equality act impacts children I care for and issues/challenges it brings to me as a practittioner, but my mind is absolutely blank - any ideas?

How about making adjustments to ensure the activities you provide are suitable for all - eg if you had a child with SEN how might you adapt your setting / activities?

Do you ensure representation of different ethnicities / disabilities / family structures in books / DVDs? What about different cultures - maybe themed food / activities for Chinese new year / Easter / Eid?

Maybe start with the protected characteristics and go from there?

I would think disability and race would be a biggies regardless of your job and others like pregnancy/maternity or sexual orientation or marital status would depend more on the type of work you do. For example, as a nanny you may need to work with a mother to facilitate breastfeeding while the baby is in your care because the act gives greater protection to women who wish to feed in the workplace or as a nursery teacher writing a help sheet about language development you would want to show some understanding of different types of families and relationships to avoid discriminating against anyone not fitting the typical nuclear family set up.

But I don't know what sort of practitioner you are so can't suggest much more.

I am a nanny but can write it as any type of practitioner - was a nursery room leader before nannying so can draw on that. Obviously as a nanny I don't have policies as such but I have to

Reflect on how legislation has made an impact on the children in my setting.
Consider how the ideas of key Early Years thinkers have influenced this area of policy.
Highlight the issues and challenges that policy and legislation has had on the practice in your setting including the impact on you as a practitioner.

Then the breastfeeding might be an interesting angle? How would you support MB returning to work but continuing to breastfeed? You may need to create a plan for taking a child to MB at work or have to know how to give and store expressed milk. Although that's not much to do with the curriculum.

Race and religion - how to foster inclusion and understanding that everyone is different. Also dietary requirements, observing religious customs and festivals.

Disability - reasonable adjustments you would make to allow a child to participate in an activity or how you might modify your evaluation of how a child is responding to EYFSs. Maybe consider relatively common disabilities like speech and language delay, ADHD, AS and/or physical disabilities.

Sex - how to create a gender neutral environment so the boys and girls bathe dollies and play with prams and trains and cars etc. how to avoid gender stereotyping. Have policies that show equal parental responsibility for two parent families. Ie not just mum asked to sign forms. Oh, and not assuming mum is either a SAHM or first point of contact. Asking the parents what would work for them.

Marriage and civil partnership/sexual orientation - how to represent different kinds of families by reading books with two mums or two dads, not assuming that a child's parents are married. You might also include something about blended families? Forms having space for parent's signature not just mother/father's signature.

Forgive me, I know a bit about the Equality Act but very little about early years stuff beyond what my own child's nursery show me now and then.