The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is based on an analysis of what children need in order to thrive. There are 45 articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which outline the rights of children. These needs can be grouped into four categories:

• To survive as a fit and healthy person
• To be protected from harm and abuse
• To develop physically, mentally and socially
• To participate as an active citizen

We are a SILVER Rights Respecting School

Ipplepen Primary School is proud to have become a SILVER Rights Respecting School. This year, there will be a particular focus in school on the children becoming aware of the rights they have and how they can help everyone to access their rights. The children have already nominated a group of Rights Respecting Ambassadors who will help to develop pupil voice across the school. Please check our Rights Respecting Blog for our regular updates.

The award recognises achievement under the following four aspects of school life:

• Leadership and management for embedding the values of the UNCRC in the life of the school
• Knowledge and understanding of CRC
• Classroom climate and culture: rights-respecting classroom
• Pupils actively participate in decision-making throughout the school

UNICEF UK believes that the principles and values of the CRC should be embedded in the ethos and curriculum of every school. This is the purpose of the Rights Respecting School Award.

UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA) provides a framework to help schools to use CRC as the basis for their ethos. In a rights respecting school, children learn about their rights and the responsibilities that are implied. Children learn to associate rights with needs and distinguish between their rights and ‘wants’. They learn that if they have rights, they need to respect the rights of others.