Protected Characteristics

Celebrating difference and helping everyone belong

At Crow Orchard Primary School, our values of Love, Growth and Strength underpin how we help children understand themselves, respect others and recognise that everyone deserves kindness, fairness and belonging.

Our vision — “We learn with love, grow with purpose and stand strong through every challenge” — is reflected in the way we teach children about equality and protected characteristics.

What are protected characteristics?

The Equality Act 2010 identifies nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. These form part of the legal framework that protects people from discrimination.

We build children’s understanding sensitively, using language, stories and examples appropriate to their age, development and individual needs. For our youngest children, this begins with friendship, kindness, different families, recognising similarities and differences, and making sure nobody is left out.

How do we teach this?

Learning about respect and difference is woven through school life. Children revisit and deepen their understanding through:

• Our SCARF PSHE curriculum, taught through a carefully planned, two-year rolling programme for our mixed-age classes.

• Our “Big Messages” assemblies, led by the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher, which provide a planned sequence of learning about values, relationships and the wider world.

• Andrew Moffatt’s “No Outsiders” assemblies, from EYFS to Year 6, which use stories and discussion to explore difference and belonging.

• Our weekly “Big Questions”, which encourage children to think deeply, listen carefully, explain their views and consider other perspectives.

• Books, curriculum learning and everyday conversations, which help children encounter different lives, cultures, beliefs, abilities and family structures.

These experiences build on one another, helping children apply what they learn to their friendships, choices and behaviour.

What do we want children to understand?

Our message is simple: everyone belongs, differences deserve respect, and unfair treatment should be challenged.

We help children recognise stereotypes, understand that fairness sometimes means people need different support, and know what to do if they experience or witness unkindness, bullying or discrimination. Children learn that people can hold different beliefs and views while treating one another with dignity and respect.

We value our partnership with parents and carers. Families are welcome to speak to their child’s teacher about our curriculum, the resources we use or any questions their child brings home. Together, we can help our small humans grow into thoughtful, compassionate and confident members of their community.