Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

The School of Babywearing® is committed to the elimination of unfair discrimination and to equality of opportunity in its provision of education, training and employment.

The policy applies to all learners; those seeking to be learners; employees and applicants for employment.

The School of Babywearing will
• ensure that none of those covered by this policy receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, age, responsibility for dependants, socio-economic status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, political or religious conviction, sexual orientation, disability, membership / non-membership of Trade Union, local geographic (rural or community) factors or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable to the Board of Directors;
• create an accessible organisation and extend opportunities in education, training and employment to those groups identified as under-represented in education and training to promote lifelong learning;
• recognise that working towards equality of opportunity is not additional or marginal to its activities, but central to the efficiency and development or the organisation, as an employer and as a provider of education and training.
• identify practices, procedures and customs in all areas of activity which may unfairly discriminate individuals, directly or indirectly, and replace them, as relevant, with practices and procedures which ensure equality of opportunity.
The School of Babywearing will take positive steps to implement this policy and monitor and evaluate its development. All trainers, staff, Directors and learners have a mutual responsibility for implementing this equal opportunities policy.
In order to maintain equal opportunities, the School of Babywearing will:
• Monitor policies and procedures to ensure that they support and/or provide equality of opportunity to both learners and staff.
• Develop a marketing strategy, which addresses the needs of specific client groups, including ethnic minorities, women and people with special needs to extend participation, increase social inclusion and improve employability.
• Monitor enrolment procedures to ensure they extend access to learning.
• Provide adequate and effective support services and training for learners and staff.
• Establish grievance and disciplinary procedures to protect staff from discriminatory behaviour based on prejudiced attitudes and annually review these procedures. To ensure that these procedures exist for learners and staff alike.
• Provide suitable learning environments for people with disabilities.
This policy statement is available to all learners and staff and will be reviewed annually.
Staff development will be given to staff to ensure that this policy is implemented.
Equal Opportunities practices will be promoted through the generation, dissemination and monitoring of specific guidelines, action plans and codes of practice, which are regularly reviewed. Equal Opportunities will be an integral aspect of all School of Babywearing operations.

Policy Review Date September 2024