Date
15 March 2024

Create safe, inclusive environments with students

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Design inclusive school-wide systems and processes’

Seek diverse perspectives

Seek diverse perspectives

Young people discuss their experiences of school and reflect on how to create spaces where we all belong.

Engage students as partners

Engage students as partners

Student-led groups can provide advice and guidance on the development of supportive and inclusive environments.

Groups could include:

  • diversity groups
  • Queer Straight Alliances
  • peer sexuality support groups
  • lunch forums and discussion groups
  • school health councils.

Source: Health and Physical Education Online (opens in a new tab/window)

Acknowledge expertise

Acknowledge expertise

Recognise the expertise of LGBTIQA+ young people through:

  • building the capacity of LGBTIQA+ young people to contribute to school-wide events and decisions
  • seeking student feedback on issues and ideas
  • creating opportunities to seek student perspectives
  • including students in school reviews
  • inviting representation on the student council
  • developing inclusive schooling and anti-bullying policies in partnership with students.

Plan environments together

Plan environments together

Involve students in decisions about learning spaces.

Discuss how to support both learning and wellbeing.

10928 [Students-working-in-a-class-space.png]

Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Source:
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Introduce students to UDL

Introduce students to UDL

UDL is a framework for planning for diversity.

Introduce the UDL thinking cycle to students. It always starts with "Who are the people and what do they bring?".

Useful resources

Useful resources

Screen Shot 2018 10 05 at 11.40.09 AM

Supporting LGBTI young people in New Zealand

Read time: 18 min

This document outlines six objectives to improve the lives of LGBTIQ+ young people in New Zealand. Commissioned by the Ministry of Youth Development.

Publisher: Ministry of Social Development

Visit website

Affirming diversity of sexualities and gender identities in the school community

Affirming diversity of sexualities and gender identities in the school community

Read time: 36 min

Guidelines to assist boards of trustees and PPTA branches to consider how well their schools recognise and affirm diversity of sexualities and gender identities. Published by the PPTA.

Publisher: New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Design inclusive school-wide systems and processes”:

Return to the guide “Supporting LGBTIQA+ students”

Guide to Index of the guide: LGBTIQA+ students

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