Caverstede Nursery School and Caverstede Children’s Centre will
be presented with a plaque to recognise their outstanding
commitment to treating all children and families equally on
Thursday 31 May 2012 at 4pm.
Caverstede is the first nursery school and children’s centre in
Peterborough to receive the EQualities Award, a prestigious
national initiative that enables schools and children’s centres to
demonstrate and showcase their commitment to equality. This covers
all groups and individuals irrespective of disability, ethnicity
and gender.
To gain the awards, staff and governors at the nursery and
children’s centre undertook comprehensive and extensive reviews of
all policies and practices and produced a collection of evidence
for assessment.
Councillor
Sheila Scott, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “I
am delighted to congratulate Caverstede Nursery School and
Children’s Centre on this excellent achievement. Receiving a
national award which recognises the high standard of equality being
displayed within the organisation is a real cause for
celebration.
“Caverstede is a true attribute to Peterborough, having already
received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. It continues to push
boundaries and aim higher, which is certainly something to be proud
of.”
The EQualities Award was developed in response
to the Equality Act 2010 which established nine ‘protected
characteristics’; age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender
identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity,
religion and belief and sexual identity.
The Act places both general and specific
duties upon all public bodies from schools to local authorities.
General duties require public bodies to eliminate discrimination,
promote equal opportunities and promote good relations.
Director of the Equalities Award, Dr Chris
Derrington, who will be presenting each centre with their plaques,
said: “Caverstede Early Years’ Centre has proved to be a champion
of equality in every sense. Staff and governors at the nursery and
the children’s centre have demonstrated an unequivocal commitment
to the principle of inclusion and are constantly striving to
provide a rich and stimulating environment that promotes diversity,
raises aspirations, challenges inequality and fosters good
relationships.
“Both settings have been judged as
‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted but wanted to ensure that their policies
and practices went above and beyond compliance with the recently
introduced equality public sector duties. This shows genuine
commitment and they are the first school and children’s centre in
Peterborough to receive the EQualities Award.”
Winners will receive an engraved contemporary
wall plaque to mark their achievement.
Marilyn James, Head of Caverstede Children’s
Centre said, “We are delighted to have achieved this recognition of
the hardwork and commitment of all the staff and governors. It pays
tribute to our long history of inclusive practice and keeping all
children and families at the centre of everything we do.
Ends.