Mrs White’s Words: Equity at Brill, Supporting Every Child to Thrive

At Brill, we’re proud to say that equity is at the heart of everything we do — from how we teach in the classroom to how we support children’s behaviour and wellbeing. 

The image above is a fabulous visual representation of equity and I would like to explain in further detail what this looks like at Brill. 

What’s the Difference Between Equality and Equity?

The picture shows four stages:

• Reality: Not all children start in the same place. Some have more challenges, while others may already have many advantages.
• Equality: Everyone gets the same support — but as the image shows, this doesn’t mean everyone can thrive.
• Equity: Each child gets the support they need, which might mean different things for different children.
• Justice: The barriers themselves are removed so that everyone can access the same opportunities.

Why Do We Focus on Equity?

We know that every child is unique. Some may need extra help with reading, others with confidence, while some may face challenges at home that affect their learning or behaviour in school. If we gave every child the same, we wouldn’t be giving them what they need. That’s why we personalise our support, because fair doesn’t always mean equal, it means everyone gets what helps them to succeed.

What Does Equity Look Like in the Classroom?

Imagine a class reading the same short story. Here’s how three different children might access the same lesson in different ways:

• One child is a confident reader who enjoys complex vocabulary and big ideas.
  ➤ They might be given a challenging task like comparing the author’s style with another book they’ve read.
• Another child finds reading tricky and benefits from visual support.
  ➤ They might use a version of the text with images, be given key words in advance, or work in a small group to talk through the story before reading it independently.
• A third child is learning English as an additional language.
  ➤ They might have a simpler version of the story, a bilingual word list, or be supported by an adult to help them understand the key ideas in English.

They’re all taking part in the same reading lesson, but each is getting what they need to learn well and feel successful. That’s equity in action!

This might also look like:

• Providing reading books that match a child’s level of understanding, not just their age.
• Giving quiet space or movement breaks to children who find it difficult to sit still.
• Offering nurture groups or emotional support for children who need help with social or emotional skills.

Our Behaviour Policy Reflects Equity Too

We apply the same principle to behaviour. While expectations are consistent across the school, we understand that not all children respond to the same strategies. For example, a child with additional emotional needs may need more support to regulate their behaviour. That doesn’t mean different rules — it means different routes to help them meet those expectations. Our behaviour policy is rooted in fairness, understanding, and support.

Working Together

We are committed to giving every child the best chance to flourish — academically, emotionally, and socially. We appreciate your continued support and understanding as we tailor our approach to meet the diverse needs of all our learners.

As always, if you have any questions or want to find out more about how equity works in our school, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.