May 2015 Preview

Here are a few of the things you can expect to see on your May

pages:

• Useful advice

• Equality and the media

• Organisational strategy

• Theme, topic or subject area

• Learners’ next steps

• Existing good practice

• OTLs, auditing curriculum content

• Measuring impact and learner feedback

• Deaf awareness

This is in addition to multi-faith and other equality date reminders.

Mul

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1st

Bel

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(Pag

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2nd

R

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Bir

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17

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24

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Mon

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T

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Satu

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Su

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1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

17th

18th

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23

rd

24th

25th

26th

27th

28

th

29th

30

th

31st

Ban

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My notes:

Friday, 1st May 2015

Multifaith today: Beltane (Pagan)

Useful advice

Trevor Gordon delivered an Embedding Equality session to the FE Providers’ Equality Network. He gave the following advice:

Criticise opinions, not the people who hold them

Recognise freedom of opinion, not freedom of speech

Always respond in some way

Make your point of view clear

Don't try to win arguments

Give permission to make mistakes (you too!) Reminder – in one month Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month (June)

Saturday, 2nd

May 2015

Multifaith today: Ridvan - twelfth day (Bahai) Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh)

Sunday, 3rd

May 2015

Monday, 4th

May 2015 – Bank Holiday

Reminder – this Saturday Europe Day (9/5)

Tuesday, 5th

May 2015

Equality and the media

We are exposed to the media in different ways every day. This might be television, radio, newspapers, magazines and, more recently, online advertising, Twitter and Facebook.

Of course, our learners are exposed and affected by these streams of information too. The media is full of equality-related stories and material. Not all coverage is positive but we cannot ignore these channels as a readily available source of ideas.

Wednesday, 6th May 2015

Using the organisational strategy

If organisations are serious about providing an equitable service for all, they will have a strategy that reflects their position in relation to equality and diversity. This should set out overall objectives and provide a framework within which policies can be developed and implemented. “Organisational factors” can provide ideas and direction for you in relation to planning and covering equality.

Thursday, 7th

May 2015

Theme, topic or subject area

‘Themes’ or ‘topics’ are guided by your subject specialist area. We’re sure you will have a deep and broad level of understanding that enables you to teach effectively. However, have you identified key pieces of information that will assist you in planning and bringing in an equality element into your sessions?

Friday, 8th

May 2015

Learners’ next steps

Preparing people for the world of work (or further study) is part of our responsibility. Ofsted will be interested in what we are doing to meet this duty. Our learners will be meeting and working with people from a variety of backgrounds and in diverse locations. It is important for us to promote this in a positive way. An awareness of discrimination, harassment and victimisation definitions is a basic example.

Saturday, 9th

May 2015

Today is... Europe Day

Today we celebrate Europe Day, a day which 64 years ago marked the foundation of what is now the European Union.

Sunday, 10th May 2015

Monday, 11th

May 2015

Utilising existing good practice

Embedding equality and diversity is a much tougher challenge if we do this in isolation. We can add value to our equality work through working together and sharing our experiences. Consider colleague ideas and experiences, the experts within your organisation, equality champions and sources of good practice outside of the organisation. Reminder – in one week Deaf Awareness Week (from 18/5)

Tuesday, 12th May 2015

Over the next few pages will look at observations, auditing, feedback, impact, the learner journey and evidencing. Observation of teaching and learning

OTLs can be a stressful experience, regardless of whether the observation is by an internal or external party. However, we should always remember this is a process to drive improvement and quality. It can also help to improve how equality is embedded in your sessions. We can do this by capturing good practice and sharing it with others. Reminder – this Sunday International Day Against Homophobia (17/5)

Wednesday, 13th May 2015

Auditing curriculum content

It is good practice to check the things we put in place are having the desired effect. Are our actions effectively leading to the embedding of equality? Areas for improvement can be identified through a curriculum audit. This could be via an ‘equality-specific’ exercise or feature within a wider audit.

How do you verify that your delivery is meeting all of your objectives in terms of being inclusive and embedding equality? Reminder – starting in one month: Adult Learners’ Week (13/6-19/6)

Thursday, 14th May 2015

Multifaith today: Ascension Day (Christian)

Learner feedback and evaluation

Analysing feedback and using this to drive improvement is a vital part of the embedding process. Learners are a great source of ideas, if we do not make the most of their perspectives we are missing out!

Remember, Ofsted inspectors will consider whether... “learners are fully engaged in reviewing, reflecting on and improving provision”. Reminder – in one week World Day for Cultural Diversity (21/5)

Friday, 15th

May 2015

Feedback from learners can be in a variety of formats, including:

Film footage and audio recordings - A powerful way for a third party to see the impact first-hand

Photographic evidence - e.g. displays with equality themes, community trips

Questionnaires on specific activities - Collate the results to extract key messages

Learner survey results - Qualitative or quantitative evidence

Complaints - are there more from learners that share a characteristic?

Saturday, 16th

May 2015

Sunday, 17th May 2015

Multifaith today: Ascension Day (Catholic Church England and Wales) (Christian)

Today is... International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO)

The well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans individuals can be seriously affected through homophobic discrimination. IDAHO exists to provoke action to end homophobia.

For more information visit www.homophobiaday.org

Monday, 18th May 2015

Today is... Deaf Awareness Week

Supported by over one hundred deaf charities and organisations under the umbrella of the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Week involves a UK wide series of national and local events. Did you know nearly 15% of the population have some degree of deafness?

More information can be found at www.deafcouncil.org.uk

Tuesday, 19th May 2015

Deaf Awareness Week - Did you know...

• Nearly 15% of the population have some degree of deafness • British Sign Language (BSL) is the first or preferred language of 70,000 in UK • 2m people in Britain wear hearing aids, another million would benefit from them • Almost all deaf and hard of hearing people rely on lip-reading to some extent • Many combine signs from BSL with English in order to communicate

Wednesday, 20th May 2015

Deaf Awareness Week - What is deafness?

Deafness means difficulty hearing noise. It can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. For example, people with mild deafness have some difficulty following speech, mainly in noisy situations. Those with moderate deafness have difficulty following speech without a hearing aid (BBC Health). Reminder – in one month World Refugee Day (20/6)

Thursday, 21st May 2015

Today is... World Day for Cultural Diversity

In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

Friday, 22nd

May 2015

Deaf Awareness Week - What is deafness?

People who are severely deaf rely a lot on lip-reading, even with a hearing aid. British Sign Language (BSL) may be their first or preferred language. Profoundly deaf people need to lip-read to understand speech. BSL may be their first or preferred language.

Deafness can cause difficulty communicating and people who are deaf may be at risk of physical and social isolation. They are also at greater risk of accidents because they may not hear warning alarms and sirens (BBC Health). Reminder - in one month Interfaith Day (22/6)

Saturday, 23rd

May 2015

Multifaith today: Declaration of the Bab (Bahai) Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh)

Sunday, 24th

May 2015

Multifaith today: Pentecost – Whitsun (Christian)

Monday, 25th

May 2015 – Bank Holiday

Multifaith today: St Bede the Venerable (Christian)

Tuesday, 26th May 2015

Measuring impact

You may be doing great things in terms of listening to your learners and putting new things in place as a result. However, your endeavours should not end there. It is essential to monitor the impact of those interventions. Are they doing what was intended? Do your learners agree? Reminder – in approximately one week Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month (June)

Wednesday, 27th

May 2015

Individual and group characteristics

We perhaps do not always acknowledge how many people have a minority characteristic of some kind and the proportion of this group that could be subject to disadvantage because of it. Consider gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion and all of the other characteristics. If we consider all of these groups together are we actually talking about a minority?

Thursday, 28th May 2015

Statistical and data limitations

Considering the total number of people with minority characteristics is a powerful concept but has its problems. This is because many people will have more than one characteristic (e.g. be gay and have a disability) and characteristics can change over time (e.g. mental health).

Friday, 29th May 2015

Multifaith today: Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Bahai)

‘Groups of learners’

The Common Inspection Framework 2012 makes reference to ‘groups of learners’ and specifies 20 that the provider should have under consideration. Inspectors test the provider’s response to individual needs by observing how well it helps all learners to make progress and fulfil their potential.

Saturday, 30th May 2015

Sunday, 31st May 2015

Multifaith today: Trinity Sunday (Christian)