Rights Respecting School

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We are a Rights Respecting School

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef programme that aims to put children’s rights at the heart of schools work. The award helps our children to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community.

We are very proud to be one of only two nursery schools in the country to have achieved our Gold Unicef Rights Respecting School Award. Children’s rights thread through our school ethos and culture, developing children’s understanding of their rights and the rights of others.

Children’s rights are:

UNIVERSAL – Rights are for all children all over the world

INHERENT – All children are born with these rights

INALIENABLE – Rights cannot be taken away

UNCONDITIONAL – Rights do not have to be earnt

INDIVISABLE – All rights are equally important

We aim to develop children’s awareness of their rights, and develop their awareness of the rights of others, helping them to become ‘global citizens’.

Staff listen to children and children show respect for each other and for adults. We explain key rights to children through group time discussions, encouraging them to recognise rights by looking at and talking about pictures from UNICEF and elsewhere. We use the language of rights in everyday situations and encourage children to make choices and decisions about their learning and each of our staff team has a right that they champion. We encourage children to reflect on how their behaviour affects those around them, and use a conflict resolution approach to give children the skills to resolve their conflicts, building a positive and safe learning environment for all.

A Rights Champion is chosen for each key group and these children think about how rights are being met and changes they would like to see in the school at the Steering Group.

We talk to families about rights and parents sign a Parents' Charter when their child starts at nursery school. Children learn about their rights at home with our ‘Rights Respecting' soft toy, that represents each key group, named after an endangered species (Elephants, Seals, Wolves, Lions, Sun Bears and Tigers) and parents are encouraged to add photos of what they have done at home to promote a right to Tapestry, our on line Learning Journal or add pictures to the folder.

When the child chosen to take the soft toy brings it back and talks about what they have done, other children in the key group are encouraged to talk about what that child is good at and what they like about them, to develop self-confidence and sense of individual personality, talents and abilities.

We value each child's identity and family history, using a world map to display different parts of the world our families have come from.

Each key group has a puppet that has its own identity, and this is used to discuss our charters with children and also challenging issues.

Our Steering Group, including children governors, parents and carers and staff ensures that children’s rights are reflected in our teaching and learning as well as our values and ethos.

Children are encouraged to consider their own environment and to think about the rights of children in other countries, but also be aware that children may not be always have their rights met, for instance where healthy food, clean water or education are not available for all children.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child consists of 54 articles based around children’s rights to development, participation, protection and survival.

At Goodway Nursery School we focus in particular upon the following rights:

Article 2: Non-discrimination The Convention applies to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.
Article 3: The best interests if the child The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children.
Article 8: Identity Governments must respect every child’s right to a name, a nationality and family ties.
Article 12: Respect for the views of the child Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.
Article 16: Privacy Every child has a right to privacy. The law should protect the child's private, family and home life.
Article 19: Protection from violence abuse and neglect Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.
Article 23: Children with a disability A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life with dignity and, as far as possible, independence and to play an active part in the community. Governments must do all they can to support disabled children and their families.
Article 24 : Health and health services Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.
Article 27: Adequate standard of living Every child has the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and social needs and support their development. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this.
Article 28: Right to education Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.
Article 29: Goals of education Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.
Article 30: Culture Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, regardless of whether these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.
Article 31: Leisure play and culture Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.