Just got this from DCs' school. It kinda beggars belief. No safeguarding risk with mixed sex loos, changing rooms and overnight accommodation. Just Ewwww.
Anyway so off I'll be going to the LEA. Any advice?
Is it worth posting my location to gather some like minded friends?
Email:
As a school we follow the advice of the Local authority which includes the trans toolkit and this was first published in 2013. The toolkit advised schools that “The general approach should be to ‘use the toilet you want to use’.” that “Changing rooms can be communal rooms in keeping with their gender identity”, and that “Pupils should be able to sleep where they feel most comfortable. This is especially important when sleeping arrangements are made on the basis of gender.”
More recently the updated guidance produced for [local] Council asserts that “In all cases, trans pupils or students should have access to the changing room that corresponds to their gender identity”, and that a trans-identified male pupil “is a girl and as such has the right under the Equality Act to change with the girls”. The toolkit does not contain an Equality Impact Assessment, nor are schools advised to carry one out to assess the impact of introducing its guidance on all the other protected characteristics.
This Toolkit also states that there are “no provisions in child protection and safeguarding legislation specific to trans children and young people aside from what is in place to keep all pupils and students safe” and they therefore conclude that “There is nothing to prohibit trans children and young people using the changing rooms or toilets which reflect their gender identity.” This approach is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010, whereby refusing a child or young person access to the changing room of their gender identity would constitute an act of discrimination.”
If you require further information about the toolkit then the LA are best served to answer any queries.