Equal Opportunity and Languages

It is my policy to admit all children and students regardless of gender, race, culture, home language, religious belief, family circumstances, ethnic origin or disabilities.

Children and students are accepted according to availability of place.

The individual needs of all children will be met, including how those children who are disabled or have special educational needs will be included, valued and supported, and reasonable adjustments will be made for them.

Whilse we teach French and promote positive views of various cultures, we also actively promote fundamental British values.

What are British values?

Democracy: making decisions together, for example giving opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.

Rule of law: understanding rules matter as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development for example collaborating with children to create rules and codes of behaviour.

Individual liberty: freedom for all, for example reflecting on their differences and understanding we are free to have different opinions

Mutual respect and tolerance: treat others as you want to be treated, for example sharing and respecting other’s opinions but we do not accept views or theories as fact which are contrary to established scientific or historical evidence.

We challenge gender stereotypes and don't segregate girls and boys.

I will review, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive practices that promote and value diversity and difference with parents.

Most of the resources I use reflects positive images of culture (Jun au Japon), ethnicity (Kirikou, l'oiseau de pluie...), gender and disability (All Kind of People, A Lift-the-Flap Book, Un petit frêre pas comme les autres), social class (Poulou et Sebastien)...

I speak French to all babies, toddlers and to children whose parents speak French at home and of course to my son Louis. I also have books in Polish, German and Spanish.

I speak mostly English to children whose parent don't speak French until they feel comfortable being talked to in French. The introduction of French is very progressive. We try not to watch TV in English, but encourage French DVD and French YouTube and the children are happy about it. If I welcome a child who doesn't speak one of the languages I already know I make the effort to learn few words, then few sentences in his home language. (see Karolina's testimony). I used take the children to bilingual play session at Bilton Children Centre but they have stopped. I try to follow the “One Person, One Language” (OPOL) method and I feel confident that those learning English as an additional language will make progress in both English, French and their home language because all the other children and adult in my setting and in shops, at playgroups, on the school run... speak English, They hear me speaking French to some on the children and their parent (s) speak their home language.

Policy written by Marie Parker and reviewed on 8th October 2017