Rights Respecting School

Rights Respecting School

Video clip describing young people's rights under international human rights law

 

Meadowside Community Primary & Nursery School aims to be a school where every aspect of a child is focused on and developed, including the area of well being. As part of our aim to promote a happy and successful school, we are working towards recognition as a “Rights Respecting School”. This is an award which is given to schools on behalf of UNICEF.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

 The ‘Rights Respecting School’ Award (RRSA) will help 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 pupils also learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others i.e. their responsibilities.

Every week we have an ‘Article of the Week’ that links to our ‘Open the Book’ assembly and to current news, so that children can see how the right relates to their lives and the wider world that they live in.

 

The benefits for becoming a Rights Respecting school are:

 

  • Improved self esteem and feelings of being valued and listened to
  • Increased levels of respect for each other, leading to improved relationships with other pupils and with staff
  • A sense of security as rights-respecting language and behaviour is used consistently throughout the school
  • Improved attainment and attendance, and a reduction in exclusions
  • An understanding and respect of religions, cultures, beliefs and abilities different to their own
  • A wider and deeper understanding of the world in which they live.
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The benefits for our school community are:

 

  • Strengthened collaborative working
  • Increased consultative approach with other adults and pupils
  • A sense of ownership in developing an approach that meets the needs and aspirations of the school as a whole
  • A sense that the whole school is working towards a common goal, leading to feelings of empowerment for both staff, pupils and the community
  • A platform is developed for parental engagement and discussion.
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If you would like more information about the work of UNICEF or a Rights Respecting School then please visit: UNICEF WEBSITE LINK