All children have the right to grow up in an environment that meets their basic needs and allows them choices and decisions of their own.
UNCRC in Scotland
In March 2021, Scotland took the exciting step to incorporate the UNCRC in Scots Law. As a sector, ELC already take a child’s rights based approach to working with children, however, the children’s rights landscape in Scotland will change. This is a good time to start thinking about how you can engage with children in your nursery about their rights.
NDNA has produced a publication about gathering children’s views on children’s rights. Members can access this publication for free. Non-members can access the free factsheet.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNCRC, is a list of 54 articles that list what the rights of each and every child should be, regardless of where they are born or grow up.
Almost every country in the world has signed up to the UNCRC which means that almost all children in the world should have the same rights in their childhood.
The UK signed the UNCRC in 1990 and this came into effect in the UK in January 1992. All statutory frameworks in early years (regardless of the nation) are underpinned by these articles.
Resources to support you with UNCRC in early years settings:
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child factsheet for England and Scotland nurseries and early learning and childcare providers
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child online course for nurseries and early learning and childcare ptoviders.
