AnonyMouse_2821 Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 Hi We have just had our Ecers and scored low in diversity! Now I have looked around I see what our advisor means. We have the usual coloured doll, images, and some books but actually lack anything else! How bad is that! We have no children at present from a multi-cultural background either! How do you show diversity?
AnonyMouse_7120 Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 We have different costumes and things in role play like rice cooker, wok, ethnic foods, cookery books from different countries, we have various musical instruments and music cd,s that originate from different countries....but rather than just looking at the multi-cultural side of diversity we have books, posters and resources promoting sexual equality and giving positive images of people with disabilities......I'm sure others will be able to give you lots more ideas as well
AnonyMouse_3139 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I used to make picture books showing everyone and anyone. I'd find them in magazines and newspapers, leaflets and postcards, birthday cards ECT. Stick them into a scrap book. I used to add popular logos from macdonalds to the lottery to toys, the children loved 'reading' the logos. See if you can get some newspapers in other languages too.
AnonyMouse_35577 Posted December 11, 2012 Posted December 11, 2012 We have just had completely the same - we are ok in representing culture but we need more stuff for under 3's in all areas of diversity. Does anyone have any suggestions for this age group???
AnonyMouse_9650 Posted December 11, 2012 Posted December 11, 2012 We have welcome signs in several languages including British Sign Language Dressing up clothes and food items that are multi-cultural Books that are multi-cultural and promote positive images in respect of disability Miniature figures for the dolls house that promote positive images in respect of disability A set of festivals DVDs in which children of pre-school age celebrate a range of different festivals and which have a narrative in child friendly language Mantra lingua (talking pen) resources - using this we have put together a photo picture book of things that happen in the setting and have bagged (arm twisted) keen and willing parents with EAL to record labels in their home languages (so far we have Russian, Danish, Japanese, Turkish and English with Spanish coming soon) Lots of home made display boards with multi-cultural images for different topics Hope that helps
Guest Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 we don't have dolls that we call 'coloured' and we do have good quality diversity training for staff
Guest Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/coloured
Guest Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) We need to establish means by which we can manage diversity within the organisation, We all display different characteristics and perspectives which help to enrich the workplace- · By bringing in a wide range of thinking and ideas · Help to reflect the society in which we work · Service users can connect with the people working in out projects Think about the ways in which these objectives can be met. We can enhance the quality of the services delivered in the workplace by having a multi-disciplinary workforce with a rich mix of backgrounds, knowledge, abilities and skills. Valuing diversity, respecting and validating differences enables engagement with families from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.. In my workplace, establishing a personal connection, respecting parent's knowledge and understanding and valuing their input is paramount to success. If we are sensitive when communicating, in a way which does not patronise, or make mothers feel inadequate as parents; we are more likely to engage with those parents who are less well-informed and lack confidence. We can increase personal awareness and understanding of individuals from different groups/communities by never making assumptions, assuming differences, not similarities and asking colleagues for feedback and advice from those with experience in diverse backgrounds, constantly checking our assumptions to make sure we clearly understand the situation. Edited December 12, 2012 by Guest
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 All well and good Carla, except the glaring assumption that your passage makes is that only mothers do mothering (or are you suggesting that only mothers feel inadequate as parents?). And don't get me started on those parents "who are less well informed". I find that patronising in the extreme. All that aside though, how would your policy statement inform the advice you would give to support Skippy to develop this area of provision? 2
Guest Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 My apologies for the rushed post earlier, In the short time I had this morning I pasted a passage from some of the information about where I work and yes, the majority of our policies refer to mothers, apart from our handout carer policies as we have minimal or no access to fathers/extended family http://my.actionforchildren.org.uk/styal-mother-and-baby-support-unit/story-sacks-help-local-mothers-read-their-babies and I left so much of the policy out because it really does not apply (without huge adaptations) to community based settings. http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/about-us/jobs/equality-and-diversity I suppose respecting diversity and equality underpins my practice and I seek to demonstrate this through everything that I do. Resources and equipment are only a small part of 'Diversity' in the setting and it's a good job because our resources are minimal, we have no funding for equipment and I joined this thread in the hope I may find some good ideas to improve our setting. One thing I have found to be truly helpful; is good Equality and Diversity training.
AnonyMouse_7120 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Sue J, can you tell me where you got the ' set of festivals DVDs in which children of pre-school age celebrate a range of different festivals and which have a narrative in child friendly language', sound really good, a different dimension on what we already have to raise diversity awareness.
AnonyMouse_9650 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Hi Mouse The link below will take you to Child's Eye Media - which explains in detail - we got Festivals 1 and 2 and they have proven to be worth the spend as they don't date. Am saving up for the people who help us ones next. http://www.childseyemedia.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=33_91 1
AnonyMouse_7120 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Thank you, they look great, so hard to find resources that are actually aimed at 3/4 year olds. Will def be investing
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 My apologies for the rushed post earlier, Ah yes, I can see now and I'm sorry for being snappy. The ECERS is specifically an environment audit, so a lot of the scale is based around the resources on offer. Somewhere I have the supporting publication which goes into much more detail about what each scale point 'looks like' in practice. I'll see if I can dig it out. For what its worth I have the Child's Eye Media videos - probably in the lock up. Our children loved them and they sparked off so much 'spontaneous' role play (although the Chinese dumplings were disgusting, but that's another story).
AnonyMouse_13453 Posted December 13, 2012 Posted December 13, 2012 There are lots of ways to embrace diversity because we are a very diverse society! In our area of Cumbria, the last census found us to be 98% white British, so culturally, we are poor. This being the case, we have had to look at other things and our entrance board with our WOW slips says "We are all different but we are all incredible". We look at different family groupings -we seem to have quite a few of those! And different abilities or disabilities we have. We enjoy finding out aspects of Chinese New Year, Hanukkah etc. with the resources we've built up over the years. We also celebrate the diversity of things like height and hand sizes, taste and preference, eye end hair colour. I look upon it as the outward signs of difference and how we are all the same really. 2
AnonyMouse_30128 Posted December 13, 2012 Posted December 13, 2012 Maz im coming to raid the lock up....i like the sound of those!
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted December 17, 2012 Posted December 17, 2012 Finleysmaid - I found the DVDs at home, actually. I'm sure the posters are in the lock up though. Would you like to have a little look?
AnonyMouse_30128 Posted December 18, 2012 Posted December 18, 2012 Finleysmaid - I found the DVDs at home, actually. I'm sure the posters are in the lock up though. Would you like to have a little look? OOh yes please....you coming for coffee then??? :P ::1a :lol:
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