A new Trans Inclusion Toolkit has been launched for schools and colleges in Leicester and Leicestershire.

The toolkit provides information and guidance on how to more effectively support transgender and gender questioning pupils and students and prevent transphobia.

It has been developed by Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and the Transgender Centre of Excellence, alongside other local authorities and partner agencies.

Councillor Ivan Ould, lead member for children and families at the County Council said: "We know this is an area where schools have asked for support and this will enable our schools to embed the good work they are doing and develop their approach to trans inclusion and support.

"We want all children and young people in our schools to feel safe and be happy."

Deputy city mayor Councillor Sarah Russell, who leads on education in Leicester, said: "It's important that we support schools to be inclusive, open environments where young people can talk about any issue that affects them. Our teachers already do a fantastic job of creating just those conditions.

"This toolkit will help to further equip our teachers so that they can support young people to have open and constructive conversations about gender identity."

Trans young people who receive support from the Young Transgender Centre of Excellence at the Leicester LGBT Centre have been integral in creating this toolkit.

This toolkit should be used as part of a whole school approach, including staff and governor training and involvement of the wider school community.