Rights Respecting School
Our Commitment to Children’s Rights
At Aylesham Primary School we aim to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of everything we do so we are deeply committed to embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into every aspect of our school community, ethos, and vision. We believe that every child has the right to feel safe, valued, respected, and able to thrive in their learning and personal development.
We are at the beginning of an exciting journey to become a Rights Respecting School, working in partnership with UNICEF UK through their Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA).
What is UNICEF and the UNCRC?
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and young people and their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It sets out the rights that all children, everywhere in the world, are entitled to. These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.
These include the right to be safe, the right to learn, the right to play, the right to be listened to, and the right to be treated fairly—regardless of race, religion, background, or ability. The Convention is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, showing the global commitment to protecting and nurturing children.
What is the RRSA?
The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA), led by UNICEF UK, supports schools in placing children’s rights at the heart of their ethos and daily practice. The award recognises schools that create nurturing and respectful environments where rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected, and promoted.
Through this journey, we aim to ensure that:
- Children know and understand their rights.
- Staff, pupils, parents, and governors work together to uphold and respect those rights.
- Our values, policies, and curriculum reflect the principles of the UNCRC.
By becoming a Rights Respecting School, we are not only building a culture of respect and responsibility, but also preparing our pupils to be thoughtful, active citizens in their communities and the wider world.
Where are we so far on our journey?
At Aylesham Primary School, our core values of Motivation, Integrity, Nurture, and Diversity are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our ethos, guide our daily practice, and help create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for every child.
Living Our Values
Children at Aylesham have a good understanding of our core values, and we celebrate them weekly during our celebration assemblies where children are recognised for demonstrating excellent rights throughout the week. Learning in assemblies also remind children of their rights and how we can respect them in our everyday lives at school.
In class, children learn about their rights and are encouraged to share their opinions, participate in meaningful discussions, and listen respectfully to the views of others. We link lessons to specific Articles within the UNCRC to what we are learning. This gives opportunity to discuss rights both in relation to themselves and other children around the world.
The children have regular opportunity to keep up to date with issues and news from around the world when they tune into CBBC Newsround and take part in a weekly Picture News discussion assembly.
We believe every child has a voice, and our School Council plays a key role in helping us develop further as a Rights Respecting School. The School Council are also responsible for fundraising and raising awareness of global and environmental issues.
Our Behaviour policy is built around the right to be heard and kept safe. We follow the restorative justice approach to behaviour management.
Supporting Children’s Wellbeing
We are committed to giving children the tools to talk about their feelings and manage their emotions from an early age. Our PSHE curriculum supports the development of social, emotional, and character traits, while approaches such as Trauma-Based Nurture help pupils build resilience and learn to express their thoughts and opinions in a safe and supportive way.
What This Means for Aylesham
- Motivation – Children are motivated to learn in an environment where their rights are understood and respected.
- Integrity – We model fairness, honesty, and respect for others’ rights.
- Nurture – Every child feels safe, supported, and encouraged to flourish.
- Diversity – We value and celebrate each individual, ensuring rights apply to everyone equally.
By beginning our Rights Respecting journey, we are building on our values to create a community where children know their rights, respect the rights of others, and grow into confident, compassionate citizens of the world.
You can find out a bit more about the Convention on the Rights of the Child by visiting unicef.org.uk/crc.
For further information about Rights Respecting Schools please visit:www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa