Contact Details
- 01489 782075
- adminoffice@freegrounds-inf.hants.sch.uk
Hobb Lane, Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 0GG
Rights Respecting Schools
Freegrounds Infant School – Rights Respecting School Award
Freegrounds Infant School strives to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. As part of this plan we are working towards achieving our silver Right Respecting School Award (RRSA).
What is the RRSA ?
The RRSA (Rights Respecting Schools Award) is awarded by UNICEF. 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). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential. The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice. A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. All children have rights which are inherent, inalienable, indivisible, universal and unconditional. They are 42 different articles relating to the rights of the child. For more information about the convention the Convention on the Rights of the Child by visiting www.unicef.org.uk/crc. For further information about Rights Respecting Schools please visit: www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa
What have we done to be a Rights Respecting School?
All children are taught about their rights across the curriculum. Rights are the focus each week during collective reflection and are discussed in detail as part of our PSHE lessons. Every year each class makes a class charter. This charter is agreed and signed by the children and adults. It details how we will show respect for each other's rights. We have a steering group where children, teachers and governors come together to discuss our Rights. We have a group of ambassadors who work with children across all year groups to ensure children can enjoy their rights throughout the school day. We are continuing to work with the children to teach them about global issues and have held various fundraising events across the year to help in such issues.
Nick the Rights Respecting Ninja
This is Nick our Rights Respecting Mascot for Freegrounds Infant School. He helps us to learn about and understand our rights.
Child Friendly Rights
Letter from the school council.
Our UNICEF ambassadors.
Pupil Voice is important for children to be fairly represented and consulted about what happens in their school life, learning / curriculum and enjoyment. UNICEF ambassadors are an integral part of our school community.
In a democratic way, each class votes for 1 UNICEF class ambassador, we ideally meet once a week (Wednesdays) when possible. Our ambassadors meet weekly to discuss their ideas, opinions and carryout actions which are on their action plan. We are working towards achieving the Silver Rights Respecting Schools Award. Our ambassadors inform the school community about their rights and how the adults as 'duty holders' have a responsibility to enable children to have their rights.
Our steering group.
Our UNICEF steering group is a diverse representation of our school community and each class is represented by a UNICEF ambassador too.
This year we have been working hard to ensure the children's rights are upheld. In particular we have achieved the following...
* creating the ABCDE of children's rights for the classrooms
embedding Nick the Rights Respecting Ninja in our school community
* creating lunchtime, playtime and collective reflection charters
* planning a whole school 'Children's day', 'Diversity Day', Safer internet day' and 'Earth day'
* planning how to include our SMSC characters in our learning
* campaigning for better play spaces in Hedge End
*working on our school improvement plan action linked to physical and mental health
* improving our mental health and wellbeing through improving our playtimes
Our class charters
Lunchtime, playtime and collective reflection charters.
Collective Reflection
Inclusion Quality Mark Report
Green Cross Code Competition
Fortnightly Right 2022-2023
Rights around our school
Harvest Festival 2022
This year we collected donations for the local Hedge End foo bank. This upheld the children's rights to health and survival. In class we reflected on the ABCDE of children's rights an discussed how not all children have equal access to the UNCRC. By donating food for the local area we were able to support families in Hedge End so that children do have better access to their rights to article 24 and survival.
Our Christmas hoops linked to article 29. This year we made our decorations from recycled materials.
The school council and UNICEF ambassadors have been talking about our school improvement plan and thinking about our wellbeing at school. We have signed up to the Outright campaign again.
The campaign this year is focusing on children’s right to the best possible health, all around the world. More information about the campaign can be found on our ‘Rights Respecting Schools’ webpage.
By taking part we are supporting children and young people to learn about children’s rights and ensure their voices are heard by decision-makers.
The ambassadors and councillors have been thinking about playtimes and lunchtimes and working with Mrs Jones to make them even more enjoyable for our physical and mental health.
We will be planning some activities in school and also some home learning linked to it so watch this space…
Outright 2022-2023
Charities we have supported this year are...
Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day £128
Cash for Kids clothing collection £48
Jeans for Genes £203
Hedge End food centre £272
We also collected lots of food as part of our Harvest festival too and donated it to support local families.