“I’m learning a lot, listening to what people are doing.”
A series of workshops is underway, giving practitioners valuable insights into the approaches others are taking to ensure their curriculum supports equity and inclusion for all their learners, as well as sharing their experiences. Dates are available now for events in January and February, and practitioners can register using the link below.
The events include a marketplace session to meet and connect with organisations in your region that can support staff and learners with aspects of equity and inclusion.
Practitioners have been talking about: differing cohorts of learners, for example children living in poverty and learners with ALN; aspects of the Curriculum for Wales such as Black Asian and Minority Ethnic histories and communities; and, more generally, about how their curriculum supports equity and inclusion for all children and young people, helping everyone to make progress in learning and develop in the ways described in the four purposes.
At the Swansea event in November, the second of 5 in-person events across Wales, colleagues from a pupil referral unit (PRU), a voluntary aided Church in Wales school, a primary school with a high number of Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils, and a special school explained their approaches and led discussions, candidly answering some very detailed questions!
Sitting face to face at tables brought a welcome immediacy, and colleagues commented:
“I’m learning a lot, listening to what people are doing’
I’m thinking about how we can do what you’re doing”
“We’ve been hearing that PDG [Pupil development grant] use can be about stopping something happening – interesting”
Conversations were relaxed and informal but still insightful. Perhaps the afternoon tea helped.
At the marketplace session, both the practitioners and the representatives from the not-for-profit and third sector organisations such as Mudiad Meithrin, Empathy Lab, e-sgol, and Museum Wales, appreciated having the time to discuss what’s on offer and how that can fit with the curricula being developed by each school and how both might evolve in the future.
The dates for the Curriculum for Wales Equity and inclusion events in 2024 are:
Aberystwyth 24 January 2024
Wrexham 31 January 2024
Ynys Môn 1 February 2024
Practitioners from early years and EOTAS settings as well as from primary, secondary and special education can register here: Equity and Inclusion Education Events Registration Form (smartsurvey.co.uk).
For related resources, news and networking, log into Hwb and search networks for ‘Equity and inclusion Tegwch a chynwysoldeb’
And it would be a pity not to include the full feedback from one of the contributors at the Cardiff event which expresses a personal and valuable opinion:
Really enjoyed the equity and inclusion day!
I have had quite a few emails from attendees from the day asking for me to share resources and signpost to different training etc. Some attendees are coming to look at specific aspects discussed how we have used Shape Colour Coding across Welsh to support additional needs etc.
I loved that we had a range of different attendees in the groups as it was so interesting as every group discussion focused on a different aspect of communication, speech, language, wellbeing and creativity.
Everyone agreed that Communication is key and that the employers are looking for 85% soft skills and this is where we should be focusing our energy and teaching skills to ensure that the next generation are in education and employment and not homeless and in the youth justice system.
Thank you for the opportunity to share!