How to evidence diversity within your planning

Ideas of how to incorporate diversity within planning

Many practitioners struggle to show evidence of diversity within planning. However, there are many activities and experiences that can be planned around this. When Ofsted visit to carry out an inspection, they will be looking to see how diversity is promoted within the settings.

It is practitioners responsibility to ensure there a wide range of resources and activities available for all ages of children, as well as resources there should also be images and posters.

Five ideas of how to promote diversity within your setting:

• Celebrate special occasions e.g., Eid, Easter, Diwali, Christmas, etc. – As there are many celebrations your setting could join in with why not look closely at what is relevant to the children in your setting. Invite parents, grandparents in and celebrate together, this is also a great way to develop parent partnerships.

• Join in events organised in your local community, e.g., Local fetes, fairs, etc. Contact your local council to see what they have planned; there may also be events going on at your local library that you could join in.

• Visit places like the fire station to help the children understand that it is not just men that work as this occupation. Invite professionals from the dentist or doctors etc. to talk to children about the different occupations and being treated as equal.

• Organise a cultural cooking morning, plan to cook different food from around the world. Why not invite parents and grandparents into the nursery to cook with the children.

• Using a world map, a piece of string and picture of a child, why not show where children in your setting come from. You may have children that are French or Polish. This would create a discussion between all children.

Other suggestions for how to promote diversity within everyday practice

As many children will be taking holidays around this time of year, it may be a good time to create displays linked to different countries. Don’t forget to include books, images, and other resources to your areas of your room. Providing children with a range of learning opportunities such as topic books can open up many discussions between all peers.

As well as using resources incorporate time to talk about the different places to visit, the food, the clothes people wear, the different types of music, etc. As Harvest is approaching soon why not join in harvest celebrations or festivals related to teaching children about where food comes from. Arrange outings to local markets, bakery’s, allotments so that the children can get a greater understanding of where and how food is actually grown. Harvest is great opportunity to get fully involved in the local community.

As we all know children should be exposed to learning about the wider community in a culturally diverse environment.   Therefore childcare settings should fully evaluate how their setting is promoting diversity within everyday practice.