Ways to promote equality and value diversity in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET)

We train the trainers within our Level 3 Award in Education and Training to understand the differences and how to apply them within the classroom. As employers, you also need to embrace this as it will make you stand out above you competitors.

We provide definitions for equality and diversity in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training which equality is ‘about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents’ and within the classroom this means learners have fair access to attend and participate in their chosen learning programme. This should be regardless of age, ability and/or circumstances. However, there could be certain entry requirements which might need to be met for some qualifications or courses.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training diversity

Diversity on the other hand is about the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. Diversity is what makes training fun. As an experienced teacher trainer, I love to learn about the experiences of different individuals and it is my job to relate their experiences to the learning outcomes. In an organisation, a diverse workforce is more likely to understand your customers' needs and come up with ideas to fulfill them. Diversity in the workplace will also increase employee morale and instill a desire to be more effective and work more efficiently. This will greatly increase the productivity of your business.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training Equality Act

The Equality Act (2010) provides rights for individuals and those associated with them, not to be directly discriminated against or harassed, this is not just from the employer but the employer including the teacher must prevent that person from being harassed by other learners or colleagues. Reasonable adjustments must take place to lessen or remove the effects of a disadvantage to a learner with a disability. Reasonable adjustments can include:

• Ensuring access to areas, rooms and toilets;
• Offering facilities to meet various needs, for example, diet options, prayer rooms, handouts in different fonts/sizes/colours, adjustable desks, lifts, loop/minicom systems, interpreters;
• Using activities that everyone can participate in and that do not exclude anyone for any reason .

As a parent, I ensure all of our courses start at 9.30 so we don’t exclude parents that need to drop off their children to school or nursery. As an employer, can you offer flexible working to cater for this or are you excluding good staff?

Level 3 Award in Education and Training ask these questions

In the Level 3 Award in Education and Training and our teacher training courses, we suggest that if you ever feel unsure as to whether you, or other learners and colleagues are valuing equality and diversity, just ask yourself the following:

• Is this fair?
• How would I feel in this situation?
• Would I want to be treated this way?

Always include your staff and learners in relevant activities during sessions, and throughout the full learning process, rather than excluding anyone for any reason. The best way to ensure this is to ask them what they need. If asked, learners will usually say what their needs are, whether that is from a religious or cultural point of view, or if they have a particular need in terms of a disability or otherwise such as poor English. However, it's difficult to help learners if they don't state any specific issues, needs or concerns they might have but make sure you ask.