UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child all governments have a responsibility to make both children and adults aware of these rights.

We are a Rights Respecting School here at Gladstone Primary School and we achieved UNICEF Rights Respecting School gold status in March 2023. This means that children's rights runs through everything we do and our school helps our pupils to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community.

By learning about their rights our children, also learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others and understanding the importance of equality and being fair.

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How does teaching about children’s rights fit in with the aims of the school?

The aim of rights of the school is to help children in achieving their potential and become responsible citizens.

Learning about rights throughout the curriculum helps children learn respect for self, others, critical thinking skills and informed decision-making.

A Rights Respecting School is where:

• Pupils gain self esteem by learning about their rights

• Pupils learn that rights bring responsibilities for adults and children

• Pupils become active global citizens

• Pupils have a powerful voice

Every class at Gladstone Primary School has written a class charter which includes the rights and rules which everyone in the class has signed and agreed to. This charter outlines expected behaviour linked to rights.

What is meant by rights?

These are not the same as wants. What are termed ‘rights’ are the basic human needs and values that apply - or should apply - to everyone.

What about respecting these rights and the rights of others?

For children:  to respect the rights of others

For parents: to respect and provide for the rights of their children

For schools: to support families and to respect and provide for the rights of children

What about children’s respect for the rights of others?

We think it’s important for children at Gladstone Primary School  to learn about children in other parts of the world whose rights may not be respected.

We have a responsibility to care about every child’s rights and we support charities abroad to ensure all children receive their rights.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child consists of 54 articles. The key provisions of the Convention are:

• The right to a childhood (including protection from harm)

• The right to be educated

• The right to be healthy (including having clean water, nutritious food and medical care)

• The right to be treated fairly (which includes changing laws and practices that discriminate against children)

• The right to be heard (which includes considering children’s views)

How can parents support what children are learning about the Convention at school?

• Take the time to ask your child what he/she has learned recently regarding children’s rights.

• Discuss the ideas he/she is learning in class and try to think of examples from your own experiences, or from the media, of rights being respected or denied.

• Ask your child’s opinion on children’s rights

   

• As with most things, the learning of rights, respect and responsibility begins at home. Children often learn what they see and hear.

   

• By becoming involved in your child’s learning and showing an interest in who he/she is and what he/she is doing, you help your child to learn the importance of giving and sharing with others.

How can you use RRS language at home?

-It is your right to relax and play so respect that right by playing respectfully during playtime and tidying up and respecting the rights of others.

-You have a right to your opinion and you must respect that right by listening to the opinion of others.

-You have the right to live in a clean world and so respect that right by clearing up after yourself.

-You have a right to eat healthily and so respect that right by eating sensibly at meal times.