UNICEF

UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA)

A part of the vision for our children at Claremont Primary School is that they are positive contributors to wider society with a passion for life-long learning and a strong sense of self. Through the process of becoming a UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools we will be supporting our vision for them.

What does UNICEF do?

Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) is the world’s leading organisation working to keep children safe. Every child, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to grow up safe, happy and healthy. Unicef UK raises funds for Unicef’s emergency and development work around the world and advocates for lasting change for children worldwide. This includes working to change government policies and practices that restrict child rights in the UK and internationally.

What is the award?

The Unicef (RRSA) is based on the principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. It seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.

A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. Young people and the school community learn about children’s rights by putting them into practice every day. Since 2006 Unicef has worked with primary schools, secondary schools, schools for children with special educational needs and pupil referral units across the whole of the UK to promote a child rights-based approach and to share good practice in improving outcomes for children and young people.

The benefits for our children 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.

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.

Click here to download a quick guide to the RRSA.

What is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child or Children’s Rights Charter (CRC) sets out the human rights of every person under the age of 18. The Convention is an international human rights treaty which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and ratified by the UK in 1991.

The Convention is a very important document because it recognises that all children have the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, to be protected, to develop to their full potential and to participate. It also lays out what countries must do to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights, regardless of who they are, or where they are from.

Click here to download a child friend version of the children's right charter.

Click here to download a copy of the children's right charter written in Somali .

Click here to download a copy of the children's right charter written in Arabic