An integral part of our Children's Planning has been ensuring a focus on equality, reducing significant inequalities, compliance and accountability.
The Council is committed to fulfilling the three key elements of the general equality duty as defined in the Equality Act 2010:
Eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
Fostering good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
Our Integrated plans have ensured we support children and young people to have respectful , positive relationships. The Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme supported by a range of partners on the Steering Group has ensured roll-out to all of our mainstream high schools, with developments planned to continue post COVID.
Collaborative planning on developing the young workforce and the Early Years expansion has addressed gender bias and promoted equal opportunities via Modern Apprentice Opportunities and promotion of Early Years as a career option open to all genders.
In direct response to the impact of COVID 19 on our most disadvantaged, we addressed the Digital Divide by providing 410 mifi devices for distribution in our Local Learning Communities. In addition to the 7000 devices in our schools estate, this enabled schools and ELC's to support those where connectivity and access was a barrier to engaging with on-line and remote learning.