Explain that what makes them a group is that they are all children who belong to the school. This is our school family and we are all part of it. Each child is different and it is the differences that make our school a better place. Have you ever been treated differently? (They include times they have been left out because of their race or gender.) Now think about your class and each member of it. It is the combination of children with all their differences that makes it such a rich place. Recommended. Celebrating Difference is essential and valuable reading for every teacher and school leader – a groundbreaking book to help make our schools safer spaces for all young people. Give the names of six children in the school who are different in size, age, sex, ethnicity, ability and so on. Ask these children to come to the front of the assembly.

Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+

At the same time, other children might need to learn how to communicate with a classmate who communicates in a different way or finds it hard to communicate. A pencil, whiteboard, desk, dictionary, paintbrush and calculator are all items you would find in a school. The children are unlikely to be familiar with the flower names on the last slide. They are quite unusual flowers, but they all grow in the UK and Ireland. They are all beautiful and they are all different.

This is not a book, it is a philosophy, and one which I wish had been in place when I was growing up. We can only truly celebrate difference when we face prejudice head-on, including our own.

Celebrating Differences SPCK Assemblies - Celebrating Differences

If a pupil has a disability, disfigurement, or something that makes them appear 'different' to others, make sure you work with them to discuss what they want to share with others. Support them to define themselves and take the lead in their own lives Nigella: what’s the same about this flower? Some of them may be the same colour, but that ’s about it. Nigella has bushy growth and is good for cutting, with feathery foliage and striking seed pods.For example, you could talk about the history of disablism to share how the disability rights movement came about and show why it is important that people are given equal rights. Understand the moral and statutory rationale for LGBT+ inclusion from the beginning of education through to school leavers. This ground-breaking book examines the roots and impact of identity-based prejudice in schools, drawing on Shaun's own experiences of homophobic bullying and his subsequent career as a teacher and school leader. The core of the book is based on Shaun's award-winning training programme Inclusion For All, endorsed by the Department for Education, presenting an effective approach to LGBT+ inclusion at a whole-school level. This includes practical strategies to eradicate prejudice, prevent bullying, embrace diversity and improve whole-school outcomes such as attendance and attainment, as well as mindfulness techniques and ideas for INSET training sessions and school assemblies.

The same but different: assembly plan : Mentally Healthy Schools The same but different: assembly plan : Mentally Healthy Schools

The echinopsis is a cactus, a greenhouse plant. It likes heat and has to be kept completely dry in winter. The flowers can be white, golden-yellow or pink and are sweetly scented. In some species, these open during the evening and last for about two days. Blink and you can end up missing them! The meconopsis is a blue poppy-like flower, one of the few blue flowers around. It has a long stem, with several flowers on each stem. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Celebrating Difference and consider it a very timely book. This text uses a clear structure to move through the personal experiences of the author, through education practice, to a consideration of the issues from a more theoretical view. It situates LGBT+ within the context of inclusive education as well as providing practical approaches to the development of practice in schools. I shall certainly be using this text with both undergraduate education students, as well as student practitioners reading for their Masters in Inclusive Education. Written with warmth, humour and compassion, this is a must-read guide for all teachers and school leaders who wish to promote inclusion, celebrate difference and ensure safer futures for all young people. You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly ( Celebrating Differences) and the means to display them.Explore strategies for avoiding working with LGBT+ in silos to develop a more intersectional approach For example, can they both talk and ask about pets, their favourite school subjects, spare time activities, music or favourite YouTube clips… It is important to enable and develop every child’s capacity to ask and be interested in class mates’ so that everyone can get to know everyone else as whole people and not labelled people. I recognise that each individual has a unique blend of abilities and needs. I contribute to making my school community one which values individuals equally and is a welcoming place for all.

Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+

To consider that being different from one another is something to be celebrated. Preparation and materials In this session Shaun will draw on his acclaimed book, advocacy, training and research as an award-winning educator, author and LGBT+ advocate to inspire colleagues to lead strategic, practical whole school change in respect of intersectional and compassionate LGBT+ inclusion. Imagine a flower bed in a garden. In it grow all the lovely flowers we have been learning about today. How pretty it would look! Ask pupils to spend a few moments thinking about the ways in which they are different from the people next to them. Do they look different? Do they like different things? Do they have different strengths and weaknesses? Can you think of a friend that has been able to teach you something new, because they come from a different place or speak a different language?Summary: An assembly about personal identity, featuring the voices of primary school children celebrating the fact that we are all unique...and yet all the same.