2.5) The policy references the Equality Act 2010 and shows our commitment to preventing and responding effectively to the bullying of protected and vulnerable groups of children including disabled children / children with SEN, those who are or perceive

Rating description: 

• Fully met: The policy clearly references the Equality Act 2010 and vulnerable groups including disabled children, children wth SEN, those who are or perceived to be LGBT, race and faith minority groups, sexist and sexual bullying.
• Partially met: The policy references the Equality Act 2010 but doesn’t mention all the vulnerable groups including disabled children, children wth SEN, those who are or perceived to be LGBT, race and faith minority groups, sexist and sexual bullying.
• Not yet met: The policy doesn’t make reference of the Equality Act 2010 or vulnerable groups. 

Tips:

• Some groups are more likely to experience bullying than others. The Equality Act includes some vulnerable groups: disabled children, those wo are or are perceived to be LGBT, race and faith minority groups and those who experience sexist/sexual bullying
• It is important that this is referenced and acknowledged in your anti-bullying policy.
• The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) - requires public bodies (including all schools) to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities. Under this duty, schools must challenge and prevent discrimintatory language being used in your school. 
• ABA have some resources which might help you to share this with staff and parents:
  • Free parent tool - the law section
  • Bullying and the Law section of this website
  • Free online CPD training - module 2: bullying and the law
• Other resources which might be helpful:
  • Department for Education: advice for schools on the Equality Act 2010
  • EHRC technical guidance for schools on the Equality Act 2010

Resources and examples: 

You can see tools and case studies in the attachments section below. 

All Together schools have said: 

The Equality Act 2010 is referenced on pages 2 and 4 in the policy. Preventing and responding effectiviely to the bullying of protected and vulnerable groups is mentioned throughout the policy.  

We initially updated our policy as soon as we started this process and added in reference to the Equality Act 2010. We have also ensured our policy refers directly to disability, race, religion, sexist and LGBT+