Inclusion Overview

At Hayfield Cross we feel that it is our duty to equip our children with the knowledge and skills they will need for life in modern day Britain. We believe it is important to create a safe environment for any of our pupils, staff or families that may identify as LGBT+ and also provide positive education around LGBT+ topics. 

Talking to children about LGBT+ 

Children often use the word ‘gay’ as a derogatory term, sometimes without understanding what it means. To children ‘gay’ often means stupid. The most important thing is to emphasise that no words should be used to hurt people. When we hear ‘gay’ used derogatorily it’s always incumbent upon us to address this inappropriateness. It is not necessary with children to add sexual connotation to the word. It is invariably enough to explain to children that being gay means being attracted to or loving someone of the same sex in a ‘romantic’ relationship. Using the word ‘gay’ in a disparaging way is seen as homophobic and as such is unacceptable. Teachers need to be as vigilant about this as they would if racist or disablist language were used. Children may have heard the word ‘gay’ in the playground or from older siblings or friends and may repeat it without knowing what it means. Indeed, it does not matter so much when children hear about same-sex relationships for the first time. What is important is that it is dealt with sensitively and respectfully – as should be the case with any ‘difference’ that children may experience in their lives now or in the future. Children may also use other LGBT+ terms in a derogatory and/or incorrect way and, again, it is the responsibility of the school to correct children sensitively and age-appropriately.