Central to our School’s Vision is the principle of treating others as we ourselves would wish to be treated, with respect, dignity, and a recognition of each person’s value.This is one of the key reasons why the work of UNICEF and the Rights Respecting Schools initiative is so meaningful to us. We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Silver Rights Respecting School Award.

WHAT IS A RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL?

The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The RRSA seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 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.

We are an inclusive, community school with a strong tradition of mutual respect and tolerance.

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

UNICEF UK RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT FOUR EVIDENCE-BASED STANDARDS.

• Rights-respecting values underpin leadership and management.

• The whole school community learns about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• The school has a rights-respecting ethos.

• Children are empowered to become active citizens and learners.

Silver: Rights Respecting is granted by UNICEF UK to schools that show good progress towards embedding children’s rights in the school's policy, practice and ethos, as outlined in the RRSA Strands and Outcomes  To find out more visit this website: https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/

Empower all to be enthusiastic learners

Within our school, we hold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the centre of everything we do. We have Rights Respecting School (RRS) ambassadors which consist of two children from each class in Key Stage One. They meet regularly as a team, run assemblies to promote the rights of the child and support whole school initiatives such as our health and happiness week.                      

As well as the Rights Ambassadors there are several other school bodies which focus on the Rights of the child.  Our Green team, School Council and Prefects meet throughout the year to share their voice in school decisions. 

The Rights have been interwoven into our planning and we have linked them to different high quality texts which reflect the reality of our cohort.

 

                      

Be responsible to and for society

The Rights Ambassadors lead regular assemblies to ensure that every pupil is aware of the Convention and what their rights are. During the year they are also involved in other special days which highlight one or more of those rights. These have included Anti-bullying week, Health and happiness week, Science week and International month.They have also been involved in raising funds and awareness for charities. We work closely with our partnership school, Namanyanga in Malawi under the charity African Vision Malawi. We have also supported Children In Need, Save the Children, MIND in Kingston and have collected food/supplies for a local food bank.

We are very proud that, over the past few years, several of our pupils have been inspired to take action individually on issues they are passionate about. One of our pupils wrote a letter to our Local MP highlighting the need for improved recycling. Another, raised the issue with our school caterers around the use of single use plastics and this has brought about immediate change in how the food is served.

 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by member states in 2015 and were a universal call to action poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The involvement of children and young people from a young age in understanding these goals and helping to achieve them is important. At Coombe Hill Infants' school we want to make a contribution to this and through our Curriculum, Rights Respecting Schools and Environmental learning, there are many actions that we have taken that show this commitment.

Article 42

Do your best to let everyone know that, whoever we are,

wherever we live, these are the rights of every child.”