Councillors discuss adopting revised Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit
Councillors will discuss adopting a revised version of the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 23 January.
The Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit has been developed to empower staff and governors in the city’s schools and colleges to develop inclusive policies and practices that specifically support trans children and young people.
This is in recognition that trans young people have been consistently identified both locally and nationally as highly vulnerable in terms of health and education outcomes
The latest draft of the toolkit has been revised to support schools, teachers, gender-questioning young people and their families and carers following the city-wide consultation carried out between July and October 2024.
This update will be the fifth version of the toolkit. This is an evolving area of policy, and the guidance has been regularly reviewed and updated in line with changing legislation since the first version was produced in 2013. This draft of the toolkit is based on UK law as it currently stands.
Supporting vulnerable young people
Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Youth Services and for Ending Violence against Women and Girls, said: “All young people deserve safety, dignity and respect, and trans and non-binary young people deserve to participate as equals in their school life.
“We recognise that trans young people can face obstacles to inclusion. Our firm belief is that they deserve the same access to exceptional education, equal opportunities and high-quality support as their peers.
“This is the single aim of the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit – to provide a framework for schools to support the wellbeing and welfare of young people.
“It is an entirely voluntary resource which schools can use if they choose to.
“Through this consultation, we’ve heard once again how teachers and families have found the guidance a helpful and supportive resource in what is a very personal area.
“We are absolutely committed to the dignity and safety of trans children, as we are for all children and young people in our city. This is why we’re committed to the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit.”
Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit
The revised Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit sets out to support schools to:
- Develop effective equality policies and practice that represent the diversity of their communities.
- Integrate opportunities for learning for all students.
- Prepare students for life in modern Britain.
- Prevent prejudice and foster a welcoming environment.
While offering advice on a range of areas, the key guidance in the toolkit is to recognise that support for individual children needs to be provided on a case-by-case basis, in discussion with them and their family.
With this understanding, the toolkit establishes a framework for a comprehensive school-wide approach and outlines key areas to consider when planning support.
Consultation feedback
The consultation on the review of the toolkit included an online consultation, engagement sessions involving local schools to gain the views of young people, and a number of focus groups.
The feedback received covered a range of opinions, with the majority either in support of the toolkit or feeling it should be going further to promote and safeguard the rights of trans and non-binary children.
More than 200 parents and carers engaged in the consultation, most with a child attending school in Brighton & Hove.
Just over half (51%) of Brighton & Hove parents agreed with the principles of the toolkit, with a further 3% stating they did not think it supported trans children enough.
Respondents from outside the city were more negative about the toolkit.
We also received 70 responses from young people. Overall, young people told us were supportive of the principles of the toolkit, with the main contention being the involvement of parents and carers.
More than half of teachers who responded also stated that they supported the toolkit’s principles, with a further 15% feeling that the toolkit was not bold enough in its aims or advice.
