supporting inclusion, challenging exclusion
supporting inclusive development through talks and training
Equality workshops for staff and governors
CSIE is offering equality workshops for staff and governors in schools,tailored to each particular school's needs. Over and above helping schools fulfil their legal duties, these are practical, "hands on" workshops designed to be engaging and constructive.
About the workshops:
These workshops are framed around CSIE’s go-to guide "Equality: Making It Happen", a succinct and user-friendly set of reference cards to help schools reduce bullying, address prejudice and promote equality holistically. The guide offers simple and practical advice, as well as links to sources of further information and support. We know of no other initiative addressing all aspects of equality in schools in such an effective and user-friendly way. It will take a long time for our guide to make an impact on the lives of all pupils in all schools, but for those that it reaches the effect can be decisive.
Each workshop will explore how schools can best respond to their legal equality duties and ensure that all protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010 are reflected positively in the curriculum and in everyday school life.
The workshops will:
- provide an overview of the Equality Act 2010
- consider the public sector equality duty and its implications for schools
- offer clear information on all protected characteristics
- present a range of strategies for addressing prejudice and promoting equality
- help participants develop confidence and language for discussing sensitive equality issues
- consider real-life examples (participants are encouraged to bring their own examples of equality challenges in school)
- refer to CSIE’s equality guide for schools
- assist in developing a context-specific framework for change
Who should attend:
The workshops have been designed for primary and secondary school teachers,learning supporters, inclusion managers, pastoral support leaders, senior leaders and governors who care about equality and want to reduce all forms of prejudice-based bullying and discrimination in school. Workshops will also be of interest to equality champions outside schools, for example academy chain or local authority officers and voluntary sector organisations working to promote equality in education.
Feedback from previous CSIE equality workshops:
Very knowledgeable presenter.
Clear and concise. Able to tailor to our needs.
Very thought provoking.
Clear, compassionate presentation.
Very useful - thank you!
Cost:
£500+vat plus expenses
To request a booking, please complete the online booking form Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!
Disability awareness workshops for pupils
A whole day of workshops for groups of pupils throughout your school, delivered by a dedicated ally of disabled people. Engaging and thought-provoking, these workshops are a must for schools that want to challenge prejudice and promote disability equality.
Workshops will help pupils to:
- learn more about disability and human rights
- hear disabled people’s perspectives
- identify common stereotypes and some of the prejudices disabled people face
- consider what disability is and how it arises
- understand the difference between impairment and disability
- review terminology and its effect on disabled people’s identities
- learn about disabled people who have made a difference
- ask sensitive questions anonymously
- become advocates for disability equality
95-100% of participants say that they found our workshop helpful
Some of the reasons pupils have given for finding the workshop helpful are:
- “Until today I had always been scared of disabled people but today I have learnt that disabled people have a heart and emotions too.”
- “I now understand more about disabilities. My sister and brother has disabilities.”
- “It shows that although disabled people have limits they can do many things.”
- “Because presenter told in very simply way about complicated things and used interesting examples.”
- “Now I know that disabled people do things differently.”
FAQs:
How long is each workshop? 40-45 minutes; this can be adjusted to fit in with your school day.
How many workshops will you deliver? We can deliver up to six workshops in a day.
How many pupils should there be in each group? The workshops are interactive, so they are more effective with groups of around 20 pupils. We are often asked to work with larger groups and this still generates excellent feedback from pupils and staff.
What year groups are these workshops for? The workshops are suitable for all year groups in primary and secondary schools; we adapt the content and presentation according to the age of pupils.
Does a member of staff need to stay with the group? Yes, we ask that a member of staff is present at each workshop.
Will you need any equipment? We ask for a computer, projector and access to the internet. Pupils will need a pen to write with.
How are the workshops evaluated? At the end of each workshop we ask all (except the youngest) pupils to write down if they have found it helpful or not and why; we may also offer them an opportunity to ask a question anonymously.If schools have opted for this (please see optional extras below) we will send the school written responses to questions and a transcript of pupils’ feedback as evidence of impact.
Cost:
CSIE price:£800+vat plus expenses
Optional extras:
a) written responses to pupils’ anonymous questions (£50+vat)
b) transcript of pupils’ feedback, as evidence of impact (£50+vat)
To request a booking, please complete the online booking form Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!
Equality workshops in Bristol and Manchester
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, CSIE is offering two free workshops on equality: in Bristol on 25 June and Manchester on 26 June. We remain grateful to everyone who backed our crowdfunding campaign and helped make these workshops a reality.
The workshops are for primary and secondary school teachers, inclusion managers and other senior leaders who want to build on understanding and addressing all aspects of equality in school. More than simply helping schools fulfil their legal duties or do well in an Ofsted inspection, these are practical, "hands on" workshops designed to be engaging and constructive.
Both events are free to attend but places are limited and advance booking is recommended. To book one or more places on the Bristol workshop please visit https://making-it-happen-bristol.eventbrite.co.uk and for places on the Manchester workshop please visit https://making-it-happen-manchester.eventbrite.co.uk.
The workshops are framed around CSIE’s new go-to guide "Equality: Making It Happen", a succinct and user-friendly set of reference cards to help schools address equality holistically. The guide offers simple and practical advice, as well as links to sources of further information and support. The workshops will explore how schools can best respond to their legal equality duties and ensure that all protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010 are reflected positively in the curriculum and in everyday school life.
In addition to these workshops, CSIE offers bespoke equality training for school staff and governors. To find out more or to make a booking please contact training@csie.org.uk.
Equality workshops in summer 2015
CSIE is planning a series of free workshops to help schools better understand and address all aspects of equality. The workshops will also show how Equality: Making It Happen can enable schools to ensure everyone is safe, included and learning, ultimately benefitting those at risk of bullying or discrimination. We know of no other initiative addressing all aspects of equality in schools in such an effective and user-friendly way. It will take a long time for our new guide to make an impact on the lives of all pupils in all schools, but for those that it reaches the effect can be decisive.
he number of workshops we run will depend on funding available. We have launched a crowdfunding campaign with a view to running at least two, and as many as ten, workshops. We invite everyone interested in advancing equality in schools to give generously and help us help schools make equality real. Thank you!
In addition to these free workshops, CSIE is offering bespoke equality training for school staff and governors. To find out more or to make a booking please contact us at 0117 353 3150 or admin@csie.org.uk.
Series of workshops in spring and summer 2014
All children belong: negotiating your child’s right to a mainstream education
About the workshops:
These workshops have been designed to help parents negotiate a good education for their child in an ordinary local school. They will explain in clear and simple terms what children are entitled to by law, and what parents can do to help their child’s rights be upheld in the school of their choice. The information given will refer to the current law, as well as the changes expected with the introduction of the Children and Families Bill in autumn 2014. The workshops will also help parents to identify sources of support as appropriate, and co-ordinate efforts for developing more inclusive education locally and nationally.
Who should attend:
The workshops have been specifically designed for parents of disabled children, or those identified as having “special educational needs”. Education practitioners with a personal or professional interest in school placement issues may also attend.
Aims
This workshop aims to:
- describe the different ways in which disability and inclusive education are understood
- explain what the law (existing and expected) says about the education of children who have labels of “special educational needs”
- present the contrasting ways in which local authorities understand, and offer, “special” educational provision
- affirm parents’ role as allies and advocates for their children
- help parents increase their confidence and develop clear language to better defend their choice of school.
Cost
These workshops are offered by the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE), in collaboration with Parents for Inclusion (PI). All workshops have been subsidised by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and are offered to parents free of charge.
Education practitioners or others interested in school placement issues may also attend; such places are strictly limited and cost £35.00 each.
Dates and Venues
London
Thursday 27 March 2014, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Resource for London, 365 Holloway Road
London, N7 6PA
Bristol
Tuesday 1 April 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
The Park Centre, Daventry Road
Bristol, BS4 1DQ
Winchester
Wednesday 2 April 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
St John's House, The Broadway, High Street
Winchester, SO23 9SE
Swaffham, Norfolk
Monday 28 April 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
The Green Britain Centre, Turbine Way
Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7HT
Nottingham
Tuesday 29 April 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
The Nottingham Gateway Hotel, Nuthall Road
Nottingham, NG8 6AZ
Newcastle
Thursday 15 May 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Newcastle City Library, Charles Avison Building, 33 New Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX
Leeds
Monday 23 June 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Oxford Place Centre, Oxford Place
Leeds, LS1 3AX
Manchester
Monday 23 June 2014, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street
Manchester, M2 5NS
Birmingham
Tuesday 24 June 2014, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Britannia Hotel, 6 Union Passage, New Street
Birmingham, B2 4RX
Feedback from previous CSIE workshops:
This course is a must for all working in schools.
Excellent. All very clear, interesting and varied.
All excellent - thought provoking, clear presentation, useful materials.
Excellent – Presenters clear and deep knowledge of subject area – excellent materials to support.
CSIE workshop in summer 2013
Anti-bullying strategies for a rich and positive learning environment
Book Now
About the workshop:
Do all pupils and staff feel welcome, visible and respected in your school? Do lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pupils and staff feel safe at school? Can disabled pupils and staff, current or prospective, fully participate in every aspect of school life? Ofsted’s report No place for bullying” (June 2012) said that LGBT and disabled pupils bear the brunt of bullying in schools. Do all staff at your school feel well-equipped to tackle homophobic and disablist bullying? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, this workshop is for you.
This workshop is designed to help staff in primary and secondary schools to promote equality and eliminate discrimination. It aims to do more than simply help schools fulfil their legal duties or do well in an Ofsted inspection. It is a practical, “hands on” workshop designed to be engaging and constructive. It highlights equality issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and disabled members of the school community, explores proactive and reactive approaches to bullying and offers a clear framework for advancing equality in schools. It encourages participants to consider experiences of discrimination from a range of perspectives and to take practical steps towards generating rich and positive learning environments from which everyone can benefit.
Who should attend:
- teachers
- headteachers
- inclusion managers
- other senior leadership staff
- learning supporters
- governors
- other people interested in doing more than paying lip service to equality in schools
Aims
This workshop aims to:
- help improve the experiences of LGBT and disabled members of the school community;
- promote understanding of the public sector equality duty and its implications for schools;
- provide clear strategies for developing rich and positive learning environments.
Objectives
At the end of this workshop participants will be able to:
- recognise how the Equality Act protects LGBT and disabled people;
- be aware of the different ways in which disability is understood;
- develop confidence and language for speaking about LGBT and disability equality;
- identify stereotypes and prejudices facing LGBT and disabled people in schools;
- describe barriers to learning and participation for LGBT and disabled people in their own school;
- work collaboratively to improve the experience of LGBT and disabled members, or potential members, of their school community;
- present to parents, staff, governors or inspectors a clear rationale for change;
- recognise how LGBT and disability equality are evaluated by Ofsted inspectors.
- demonstrate a clear response to Ofsted’s call to support the academic achievement and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of disabled and LGBT pupils.
Cost
£90 + vat (total - £108)
HALF PRICE offer: Places available at £45 +VAT (total £54) to delegates who participate in a 30-minute focus group discussion. This will take place straight after the workshop, to explore further ways in which CSIE can help schools promote equality.
Date & Venues
London
Wednesday 19 June 2013, 1:30 – 4:00 pm
National Children’s Bureau (NCB), 8 Wakley Street
London, EC1V 7QE
Sheffield
Thursday 20 June 2013, 1:30 am– 4:00 pm
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street
Sheffield, S1 2EW
Book Now
Trans Equality workshop
Recent workshop exploring issues of trans equality within the UK and India
CSIE campaigner Em Williams facilitated a workshop exploring issues of trans equality on 25 January 2013, as part of the two-week study visit from a delegation from India which CSIE facilitated . The aim of the session was to familiarise participants with UK equalities legislation, in particular looking at gender reassignment, while also serving as a chance for participants to reflect upon what occurs within their own regions, and India more broadly.
Through using a range of examples of trans inclusion, as well as highlighting some of the ways in which trans young people may experience discrimination within the UK it was hoped that participants would begin to consider the ways in which they might meaningful include and involve trans people within their own settings and planning for teacher education.
The group had little prior understanding around these issues and began the session feeling that they lacked any language to describe trans identities. No one knew what was meant by the terms transgender or transsexual, having no literal equivalent in Hindi, Telugu or Gujarati.
The group were helped to unpick the differences and overlaps between sex, gender and sexual orientation. This was a theme that was carried through-out all of the session’s activities. By the end of the workshop some members of the group were correcting others when they used the terms incorrectly.
An activity was carried out looking at acceptable and unacceptable language when describing trans identities, both within the UK and within their own regions in India. Participants initially said they had no language for any respectful terms used to describe trans identities and very quickly came up with a list of terms they felt to be derogatory. However, during discussion it soon became apparent that there were terms that all agreed to be acceptable. Em spoke to the group about the importance of consulting with people from the trans community in their regions in order to ensure that they were using respectful language at all times.
A continuum exercise asked participants to place examples of possibly discriminatory scenarios along an axis from acceptable to unacceptable. One scenario that was given to the group was “Is it ok to say ‘Don’t be ridiculous, child X is not trans – he is just clearly gay’?” when referring to a very ‘effeminate’ ‘boy.’ One participant felt this was an acceptable thing to say but after discussion with the wider group realised he had not fully grasped the differences between sexual orientation and gender identity. After clarifying how these are different aspects of an identity he revised his opinion and felt it was unacceptable. Discussion also included talking about the way in which context and tone may impact upon whether something is discriminatory, while some examples were seen as being entirely unacceptable in all scenarios.
The Equality Act 2010 was explored with particular attention being given to what is meant by the term ‘gender reassignment’ as a protected characteristic, as well as thinking about which trans people this legislation protects and who might be excluded. The way in which gender reassignment may be linked to the experiences of British school pupils, as well as staff, was explained and the group were encouraged to think about whether legal protection was afforded to people within India who may identify as trans. The group felt legislation did not exist and recognised that this made trans people more vulnerable to abuse. Em encouraged the group to use this knowledge to try and meaningfully include, value and celebrate trans people within their schools.
Participants were given a copy of CSIE’s “Frequently asked questions on schooling for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and young people” and areas that were highlighted included the ways in which LGBT History Month might be used to support and kick start trans inclusion. Having met with Sue Sanders, one of LGBT History Month’s co-founder’s and CSIE trustee, earlier in the week as part of their visit, Em suggested that group members could begin something similar in India, if they wished before explaining how such an initiative might help foster good relations, a key part of the Equality Act, 2010.
Feedback from the session included:
The best part for me was clarity of the terminology.
Acceptable and unacceptable language was explained very well and terminology is very good. The best part was [learning about] gender reassignment and terminology.
I have shared our cultural and social orientation towards trans equality issues.
Though it is new to us so it takes time to understand.
The best part for me was that the session was interactive and participative. I felt I was part of the session.
The language and skills of the trainer was very comprehensive.
Bespoke training
CSIE talks & training
CSIE staff and our associate trainers are knowledgeable and experienced in delivering talks and facilitating training for teachers, learning supporters, local authority officers, other professionals involved in young people’s education, parents and students. Our training is routinely praised for the level of interest and engagement it evokes, its positive and constructive impact, the clarity with which even complex issues are presented and the supportive manner in which participants are encouraged to examine their own beliefs and assumptions. CSIE training is competitively priced and offers excellent value for money.
How CSIE can help your setting
We can support the work of:
- schools, by providing speakers for assemblies, staff meetings and Continuing Professional Development days, as well as working with staff towards inclusive school development;
- universities, by delivering talks for undergraduate or postgraduate students, contributing to conferences (keynote address, panel discussion or other presentations), as well as working with staff towards the development of a more inclusive institution;
- local authorities, by facilitating Continuing Professional Development events, as well as working with staff towards the development of more inclusive education in the locality;
- central government in the UK and abroad, by working with relevant officers at national level towards the development of more inclusive education.
CSIE is a registered charity heavily reliant on income generated from selling our resources and services. Our current rates for the above activities are:
| Half day rate | £500 |
| Whole day rate | £800 |
All rates are subject to VAT; travel and subsistence expenses may also be charged. Special rates may be offered to smaller or voluntary sector organisations; please contact the CSIE office.
Whether you want someone to talk to children and young people, to conference delegates or government officials, please email us at admin@csie.org.uk or use this online form to make an initial enquiry. Someone from CSIE will contact you within five working days to discuss how we can best respond to your request. Thank you for your interest in inclusive education and in CSIE.
Page last updated: Tuesday 25 May 2021