RRSA - Rights Respecting Schools Award

Rights Respecting Education (RRE) is an educational approach that is based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Its goal is to create a school culture where children’s rights are learned, understood, practiced, and promoted by all—pupils, teachers, and the wider school community.

This approach is championed by organizations like UNICEF, particularly through programs like the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) in the UK.

Key Principles of Rights Respecting Education:

1. Children’s rights are central to all aspects of school life.

2. Students are taught about their rights and the rights of others.

3. The school environment fosters respect, dignity, and equality.

4. Students are encouraged to actively participate in decisions affecting them.

5. There is an emphasis on well-being, safety, inclusion, and empowerment.

At Old Basing Infant School we are a Gold level Rights Respecting School. We were assessed in January 2025 by a UNICEF appointed assessor. Below is the report we received following our assessment in January 2025.

Background Information

In 1991 the United Nations met and created a Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is made up of 54 articles, which set out the entitlement of all children across the world. It also specifies that the Government, Parents, Carers and any organisations concerned with children will have a responsibility to ensure these rights are provided.

(Articles 3&4) A full list of the articles can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Supporting Your Child at Home with RRE

Helping your child learn about their rights at home can be both simple and powerful. It doesn't require formal lessons—just everyday conversations, respectful relationships, and creating an environment where your child feels heard and valued.

Below are some ideas of how you can support your child to learn about their rights at home:

1. Learn about the UNCRC together.

• Read or explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in a child-friendly format. There is a child friendly version attached below.

• Make connections between the articles and your child's daily life e.g. "You have the right to an education. That’s why going to school or learning at home is so important!"

2. Encourage Open Conversations.

• Create a safe space where children can express their opinions freely (Article 12).

• Ask their views on decisions that affect them, like family plans or household rules.

• Listen actively and show them their opinions are valued.

3. Use Real-Life Situations to Highlight Rights.

• Link daily events to rights: meals (right to nutritious food), bedtime (right to rest), playing outside (right to play).

• Watch news or read stories together and discuss how children’s rights are being respected—or not—in the world.

To support your child's home learning we have adapted a booklet provided by Unicef looking at children's rights. The booklet below contains a number of activities that can be completed with your child to support the learning they have been doing in school. There is also a parent booklet to provide a little more information on the UNCRC and some helpful tips for completing the activities with your child.