It should go without saying that all children have the right to live and grow up in a positive environment, free from racism and prejudice.

Yet, while much positive progress has been made since the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, personal and institutional racism still blights lives today and can destroy a child's self-image, confidence and future development.

Reported racial incidents have risen year on year since the police first started recording these reports separately in 1988. And charities such as Bullying Online are receiving more emails and letters than ever about occurrences of racist bullying.

While this may show that it is getting easier to talk about these sorts of incidents it also highlights that racism is not just about skin colour. White ethnic minority groups like Traveller children continue to be targeted along with an alarming growth of religious prejudice in today's climate of anti-Muslim backlash.

With one in eight school pupils from a minority ethnic background (to be one in five by 2010), schools and other childcare settings have an urgent duty to work with all children to develop the skills to deal with and reject racism and prejudice. Chalvedon School in Essex, for example, actively welcomes Traveller families and has worked hard to stop racism and hostility.

New teachers receive information on Traveller culture and the school has adopted a flexible approach to school policy, such as adapting school timetables for Traveller families, allowing siblings to study together and providing school uniforms. Simple changes like these have made the school one that Travellers actively seek out as able to provide a safe learning environment for their children while not compromising their identity.

Another positive example can be found in the partnership between St George Community College in Bristol and the Amana Foundation. These organisations have joined together to support Somali families in the community through providing supplementary cultural and language classes for children as well as social activities for parents to get involved in their children's education, and language classes for Somali women. The project has proved successful in strengthening ties between the school and the Somali community along with building on the value attached to education within this community.

To combat racism and ensure opportunities for all it is clear that we have to act in a co-ordinated manner with community services, police, schools and other childcare settings working together. Most importantly, we need to encourage all children to fulfil their potential, involving them, their parents and the wider community in projects and communications that underline the message of positive diversity.