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Scottish Booktrust: supporting a rights based approach through reading

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Scottish Booktrust: supporting a rights based approach through reading

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Family Rights and Support Directory (Scotland)

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Family Rights and Support Directory (Scotland)

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Expectant Parent

New Born | 0 - 1 years

Toddler | 1 - 3 years

Child | 4 - 7 years

Child | 8 - 10 years

Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years

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Children's Health Scotland

Children's Health Scotland is the only charity in Scotland dedicated to informing, promoting, and campaigning on the healthcare needs and rights of all children and young people across Scotland.

Services include:

Children's Health and Wellbeing Services

Care Experienced Children and Young People Services

Health Rights for Children and Young People Services

Children's Health Scotland also run Self-Management Service Programmes (SMS). SMS supports children and young people aged 9-17, who are living anywhere in Scotland with a health condition. These are held either online (SMS: CONNECT) or face-to-face (SMS: F2F), and consist of a mixture of games, relaxation, discussions, practical skills activities, or peer support so that children and young people feel better able to cope with their health condition.

Children and young people who have completed an SMS Programme can also take part in SMS: HUB, a monthly online meet up for boosting health and wellbeing.

Find out more on the Children's Health Scotland website:

Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Adult Health and Wellbeing Care Experienced Children and Young People Your Rights care, care experienced, children's health, young people's health, health, wellbeing, health condition

Maternity Action

Maternity Action is a charity that offers free advice on rights at work, maternity pay, and benefits to pregnant women and new parents. You can call them on 0808 802 0029 from 10 - 1pm Monday to Friday.

They also offer free advice on NHS maternity care to women worried about being charged for NHS maternity care or who are having difficulties getting a maternity appointment.

You can call their Maternity Care Access Advice Service Line for free on 0808 800 0041 from 10am - 12pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Money Health and Wellbeing Your Rights pregnancy, expect, expectant, pregnant, pregnancy, antenatal, new parent, new mum, new dad, support with money, new baby

Mentoring for care experienced children

It's important for all young people to have at least 1 long term relationship with a positive adult role model. It can be difficult for children to find this role model in a family setting if they are in care.

Intandem is a mentoring programme that connects children and young people aged 8 to 14 who are looked after by their local authority but living at home, with adults who can be a long term source of support and friendship.

Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Health and Wellbeing Your Child's Relationships Care Experienced Children and Young People Mental Health Your Rights child, teen, mentor, role models, young people support,

One Parent Families Scotland

One Parent Families Scotland aims to enable single parent families to achieve their potential, to reach a decent standard of living and contribute to Scottish society. They offer expert advice and support for single parents about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, getting benefit calculations, finances when expecting a baby, paying for study and training, to moving into work and much more. Our direct services tailored to the needs of single parent families cover:

tailored advice and information

welfare rights and money advice

family support

support into training, education and employment programmes

training for practitioners

services to reduce the digital exclusion facing single parents.

Contact them through their freephone helpline on 0808 801 0323 or via their online chat.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Adult Money Health and Wellbeing Family Relationships Mental Health Domestic Abuse divorced, separated, broken up, breakup, seperation, single mother, single dad

Parent Network Scotland

Parent Network Scotland is a national charity that offers a range of support, training and family wellbeing programmes. Through their online Parent Academy, families can benefit from accredited programmes, certificated courses, learning new tools and techniques that enhance family life.

You can contact PNS at:

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Adult Health and Wellbeing Family Relationships Mental Health self-care, self care, stress, health, courses, parenting courses, lessons, breakup, divorce, building a relationship, parenting advice, parenting help, parenting support

Relationships Scotland

Relationship counselling helps people with their relationships. This can help you to work through problems in current relationships, explore the effects of past relationships or look at how to improve and enrich relationships for the future.

Relationships Scotland also supports parents, children, young people and the wider family through family change and disruption, particularly where this has occurred as a result of separation, divorce, civil partnership dissolution or family restructuring. The aim of family mediation is to improve communication, reduce conflict and to agree on practical, workable arrangements for the future, taking into account children's views, needs and feelings.

Child Contact Centres can play an essential role in helping children affected by family breakdown to maintain relationships with the parent they no longer live with, or with other family members.

You can call Relationships Scotland's Info-Line on 0345 119 2020 for more information or visit their website at www.relationships-scotland.org.uk

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Adult Health and Wellbeing Your Child's Relationships Family Relationships Mental Health fighting, arguing, breaking up, divorce, separation, family therapy, stress, family problems

Scottish Transition Forum for parents of young people with additional support needs

The Scottish Transition Forum - improving transitions for parents of young people with additional support needs.

The Scottish Transitions​ Forum aims to improve the experiences for parents and carers of young people with additional support needs aged 14-25 who are making the transition from school to young adult life. It provides information, guidance, and useful links to support young people, their parents and carers, and professionals.

Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Additional Support Needs Care Experienced Children and Young People disability, asn, leaving school, school leaver, further education, job, work, apprenticeships

Skills Development Scotland for secondary school children

When your kids reach secondary school, they might start thinking about what they want to do in the future. My world of work gives you and your child help and advice to prepare them for jobs, courses and even interviews.

It can also help them build the skills they need to understand themselves and the world around them.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Learning learning, training, practise, teenager, teen, s5, s6, college, university, apprenticeship, secondary, career development, leaving school, school leaver, job, work, studying, college, HND, qualifications

Support during pregnancy

If you've just found out you're pregnant, your GP practice can help you make an appointment with a midwife. Your midwife will be there for you every step of the way, supporting you throughout your pregnancy as well as after the birth. Chat with them about your needs and choices and then you can work together to plan what's best for you and your baby. For more information, visit the Ready Steady Baby website.

If you need further support, Amma Birth Companions is a registered Scottish charity that provides care, information, and advocacy to birthing people in need of support. They offer birth and postnatal companionship, as well as antenatal education and peer support activities. Their mission is to create a supportive space where all birthing people feel seen, informed, and empowered in all aspects of their birth experience. Their volunteers are trained to deliver specialist trauma informed, culturally competent care to birthing people throughout the perinatal period. To learn more or make a referral please visit the Amma website.

Expectant Parent Health and Wellbeing pregnancy, pregnant, birth, midwife, additional support needs, domestic abuse, anxiety, lone parent, perinatal mental health

Twins and multiple births

If you're pregnant with twins, triplets, or more your midwife will discuss your maternity care with you to make sure it meets your needs.

You can also get in touch with Twins Trust in Scotland who provide information and create support networks for families with twins, triplets or more.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Money Health and Wellbeing Sleep Behaviour Family Relationships Feeding Learning Mental Health triplets, triplet, quadruplets, quadruplet, quintuplets, quintuplet, sextuplets, sextuplets, septuplets, septuplet, octuplets, octuplet, pregnant with twins, getting ready for twins, preparing for twins, breastfeeding twins, sleeping arrangements,

Best Start Grant School Age Payment

Starting school can be a very exciting time but it can also be expensive. If you're eligibile, the School Age Payment is £267.65 for each child. Just like the other Best Start Grants, you can spend it on whatever your child needs.

You can apply from 1 June in the year your child is first old enough to start school until the last day in February the next year.

You don't have to take up a place at school to qualify for a payment. Parents and carers of children who homeschool, or who start school a year later, should still apply during the window when the child is first old enough to start school.

Child | 4 - 7 years Money Learning books, bags, uniform, clothes, shoes, p1, best start grant numbers, apply for best start grant, child benefits, scottish child benefits, money, cost

Free dental healthcare if you're pregnant

If you are pregnant you can access a NHS dentist for free. All you need to do is ask your midwife or GP for a MATB1 certificate and a valid prescription maternity exemption certificate (MatEx).

Expectant Parent Money Health and Wellbeing teeth, tooth, pregnancy, expecting, expectant, free, cavity, trimester, tooth brushing, child dentist, freel dental care pregnancy, dental pregnancy

Free nursery milk

Children under the age of 5 who attend a registered Early Learning and Childcare setting for 2 or more hours per day are entitled to 189ml of free dairy milk to support your child's growth.

Ask your childminder or nursery for more details.

Toddler | 1 - 3 years Health and Wellbeing Food and Eating Learning Your Rights toddler, child, feeding, ELC, snack, free milk,

Free school meals

All children get free school meals during term-time if they go to a local authority school and are in primary 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Please visit the mygov.scot website to find out if your child is eligible to receive free school meals.

Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Money Food and Eating Your Rights child, lunch, healthy eating, breakfast, school dinners, school lunches, entitlements, funded lunches, free lunches, child benefit

Free vitamins for all babies and breastfeeding women

Some vitamins and minerals are very important when your little one is growing. Even though you can get lots of vitamins from a healthy balanced diet, you still might not get everything you need at certain times in your life. That's why there are free vitamins available for infants under 3 years old and breastfeeding women.

All you need to do is ask your midwife, Family Nurse or Health Visitor for more information.

You can find more advice on how to make sure you and your children get enough Vitamin D here.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Money Health and Wellbeing health, newborn, baby, feeding, breastfeeding, breastmilk, healthy, vitamin, healthy kids, healthy child, baby vitamins, infant vitamins

Scottish Child Payment

The Scottish Child Payment is a new benefit that pays £25 a week to families who live in Scotland and get certain benefits. It's available for families with children under the age of 16 and there's no limit on the number of children that families can claim for.

To find out more and apply, visit the mygov.scot website.

The Scottish Child Payment was extended to include children and young people under 16 from 14 November 2022. The payment also increased from £20 to £25 per week on this date.

Children currently in receipt of Scottish Child Payment will have it automatically increased to £25 per week, so you don't have to do anything. And children under 16 who are now eligible will receive it at the new £25 rate, with all payments backdated to the date their application is received.

To find out more visit the Social Security Scotland website.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Money child, teenager, baby, entitlements, new benefit, scottish child benefit, money worries, new scottish benefit

Solihull - free online parenting classes

Solihull offers free access to courses on a range of topics, from pregnancy and labour to understanding the teenage brain. Every parent in Scotland with a child between 0-19 years old can access these courses for free. You can access them by going to their website and entering the code word TARTAN. This will give you a free 24-month registration period, lasting until May 2022, plus lifetime access after that.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Adult Health and Wellbeing Behaviour Family Relationships Learning Mental Health learning, teen, child, toddler, issues, help, parent, parenting, pregnant, birth, stress, wellbeing, parenting support, parenting advice, parenting help

Young Carer Grant

The Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £326.65 for young people aged 16 to 18 who spend an average of 16 hours caring for someone who receives a disability benefit.

Young carers can spend this grant on anything they want. Examples of what other young carers have used it for are: new clothes, a day out, hobbies, driving lessons, laptops and online streaming subscription.

Find out more about the grant and apply on the mygov.scot website or call 0800 182 2222.

Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Money Additional Support Needs Family Relationships Care Experienced Children and Young People Your Rights teen, teenager, illness, long term, benefit, entitlements, young carer support, carers allowance, carers supplement

Young Patients Family Fund

If you are the parent or primary carer of a child (under 18) who is an inpatient in hospital, you can claimfor financial help towards food, travel and, where appropriate, accommodation when you go to see them. Claims can be made through the Young Patients Family Fund. You can also claim for financial help towards food, travel and accommodation for any of your child's brothers or sisters who are also coming to the hospital to see their sibling.

You must claim from the Young Patients Family Fund within 3 months of the young inpatient being discharged from hospital.

You can find out more about the Young Patients Family Fund and make a claim on the mygov.scot website.

New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Money Health and Wellbeing health, newborn, baby, premi, early, expenses, premature baby clothes, best start grant, pregnancy entitlements, sick baby, hospital, hospital stay, inpatient, young inpatient

'Red Book' - The Personal Child Health Record

When your wee one is born, you'll be given a Personal Child Health Record or "Red Book". It's a great way to keep track of your child's health and development. It's a good idea to take it with you when your child gets their vaccinations to help you keep a record.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Health and Wellbeing Sleep Feeding Play newborn, baby, new mum, new parent, new dad, milestones, baby health, baby weight, vaccinations, jags

Antenatal appointments and antenatal classes

As soon as you know you are pregnant you should get in touch with your GP practice to get a midwife appointment. Your midwife will be able to help you all the way through your pregnancy with everything from staying healthy to what happens when you go into labour.

Speak to your midwife to find out what antenatal classes are available in your area. If you live in Scotland you can also access online antenatal classes using the access code TARTAN.

Expectant Parent Health and Wellbeing Feeding Mental Health pregnancy classes, pregnancy, birth class, birth, labour, breastfeeding, pregnant, classes, before birth, labour partner, baby classes

Family Nurse Partnership for young parents

If you or your partner is a first-time mother aged 19 or under you will have access to a Family Nurse. You should be automatically referred after your first appointment with your midwife. Your Family Nurse is there to support you throughout your pregnancy and until your child is 2 years old.

As well as supporting you in caring for your child, they will also work with you to provide advice on your health and wellbeing, and develop plans to support your life goals and ambitions.

Talk to your midwife if you haven't been transferred to a Family Nurse.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Money Health and Wellbeing Sleep Additional Support Needs Behaviour Family Relationships Feeding Mental Health newborn, young mum, young mom, young mother, teen mom, teen mum, teen mother, teenager mother, teenage mum, teenage mom, new baby health, newborn health, support for newborn, support for new parent, support for new mum, health visitor, midwife, named person, pregnancy support, health visitor

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) supports families in Scotland by making sure children, young people and their parents/carers receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people.

Part of this is delivered through a "named person". A " named person " is someone that children and their parents or carers can go to for initial advice and support. The named person will usually be your midwife until your child is born, and your Health Visitor until your child starts school. In school it is usually your child's head teacher or a senior teacher.

A family may be offered direct support from their named person or help to access relevant services offered by the NHS, local authorities, and third sector or community groups. There is no obligation on children and families to accept the offer of advice or support from a named person.

For more information, please see the Scottish Government GIRFEC website.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Money Health and Wellbeing Housing Additional Support Needs Your Child's Relationships Family Relationships Learning Care Experienced Children and Young People Mental Health Domestic Abuse Your Rights Domestic abuse, reporting abuse, reporting, reporter, social worker, social work, named person, looking after children, wellbeing, mental health

Health Visitor for new and expectant parents

Your Health Visitor will be on hand to support you and your child from the time that they are a bump right up to when they begin school. You should be contacted before your child is born, and shortly after birth. Your Health Visitor will provide advice and support on things like infant feeding, access to wider community support, and child development.

They will also undertake child development reviews to help support your child's health and wellbeing. If you have a Family Nurse, then you will meet your Health Visitor once your child is 2 years old. Make sure you're registered with your health board and you'll be assigned a Health Visitor.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Money Health and Wellbeing Sleep Additional Support Needs Behaviour Feeding Mental Health Play newborn, new baby health, newborn health, support for newborn, support for new parent, support for new mum, health visitor, support for new dad, midwife, nurse, family, support with kids, advice, parenting advice, kids health, child behaviour, check ups, development checks, kids wellbeing, mental health

Home education

Home education is where a parent or carer chooses to become the main teacher of their children and takes the legal responsibility for deciding what they will be taught and how. Normally, this is without direct support from schools, or the local authority.

If your child already attends school you must request the local authority's consent to withdraw them from school. You will be expected to explain how you intend to provide a suitable education for your child. In a few circumstances, including if your child has never attended school, you do not have to ask for the local authority's consent to home educate, but the local authority is likely to contact you to find out if your child is receiving a suitable education.

You can find out more about Home Education including information and support networks on the MyGov.scot website.

Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1 - 3 years Child | 4 - 7 years Child | 8 - 10 years Teen and pre-teen | 11+ years Learning Play Your Rights Homeschooling, home lessons, curriculum, teaching at home, blended learning, alternative learning, schooling options

Mental health support for expectant parents

Getting ready to have a baby can be both exciting and scary. So it's important that you pay attention to your mental health and look after yourself. There's lots of advice and support for expectant parents on Parent Club. There is also a free online course that can help you understand how you may be feeling through pregnancy and birth. Use the code TARTAN to get free access.

If you are struggling speak to your GP, midwife, Family Nurse or call NHS 24 on 111. Parents can also find more support services via the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Directory.

Advice and support for new parents can be found on Parent Club, including information on how to access the free Solihull Online parenting resource.

Expectant Parent Health and Wellbeing Mental Health depresssion, post-natal, depressed, anxiety, anxious, worry, pregnant, pregnancy expect, expectant, feeling down, upset, stress, worried, pregnancy advice, pregnancy support, wellbeing, healthy pregnancy,

Miscarriage support

A miscarriage is the loss of your baby before 24 weeks. Suffering a miscarriage is a traumatic experience for anyone. Often we don't know the reason why but it's very unlikely to be caused by anything you did or didn't do.

If you've experienced a miscarriage there is support available from your local NHS Board. Contact your GP, midwife, or other healthcare worker to access the support available.

Many health boards provide counselling and follow up support services. Your health board can also refer you to third-sector organisations like Held in Our Hearts, SiMBA, SANDS, Tommy's and the Miscarriage Association.

Expectant Parent Health and Wellbeing Mental Health Miscarriage, miscarrying, stillborn, healthy pregnancy, expect, expectant, pregnant, pregnancy, baby kicks, count the kicks, fetal movement, maternity

Stillbirth

When a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth, it is known as a stillbirth. Sometimes, a baby can be stillborn and no cause can be found. However, we do know that there are things you can do to reduce your risk:

These apply whether you are having a single or multiple birth.

Expectant Parent Health and Wellbeing Mental Health stillborn, healthy newborn, healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, expect, expectant, pregnant, pregnancy, smoking, smoke, health, stopping smoking, baby kicks, count the kicks, fetal movement,

For more local support, you can try searching at aliss.org.

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All - Money Health and Wellbeing Housing Sleep Additional Support Needs Behaviour Your Child's Relationships Food and Eating Family Relationships Feeding Learning Care Experienced Children and Young People Mental Health Play Domestic Abuse Your Rights - All - Expectant Parent New Born | 0 - 1 years Toddler | 1

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Parents’ Guide to Children’s Rights - Parent Club Booklet 

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Parents’ Guide to Children’s Rights - Parent Club Booklet 

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UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - Guide for parents - Children's Commissioner for Wales

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We've made this guide to tell you more about children's rights. They outline what children need to have the best [...]

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Introduction to Children’s Rights in Scotland Training Tool

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Introduction to Children’s Rights in Scotland Training Tool

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Getting Rights ‘Right’ in the Early Years - Stride - online magazine for global citizenship in schools

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Nicole Torrens, from Edinburgh Early Years Team, spotlights the importance of Children’s Rights in the Early Years and shares some new materials to support this.

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Championing Young Children’s Rights and Entitlements

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Championing Young Children’s Rights and Entitlements

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FossoPLAY Forest Nursery

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Rights Based Practice in Early Years  - FossoPLAY Nursery

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Rights-Based Practice in ELC (Cowgate)

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Rights-Based Practice in Early Years -- Cowgate Under 5's

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Rights-Based Practice in Early Years -- Banchory Primary School's Nursery

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Well-being indicator icons (taken from The Care Inspectorate’s Our Creative Journey document)

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Children’s Rights in Scotland

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Children’s Rights and the UNCRC in Scotland: An exploration of rights in our communities

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CEC's UNCRC Reflection & Self-Evaluation Tool for ELC

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CEC's UNCRC Reflection & Self-Evaluation Tool for ELC

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Article from Children's and Young People's Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS)

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The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland

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All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children.

All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) expresses these rights within the framework of children's lives and experiences. The rights in the UNCRC are linked together and support each other - so supporting one right, like the right to participate in play, promotes other rights including the right to be heard, to free expression, to development and to education.

Long before young children can understand the concept of children's rights, they can develop a sense of their own agency. Babies and very young children can develop this through relationships with parents and carers, and through their surroundings and environment. Their experience of these early relationships will influence their sense of self, how they view others and how they respond to their environment.

Babies and very young children need to be supported by the adults that care for them to make their own decisions and to be listened to. They need to feel that their ideas, thoughts and decisions are respected.

They are finding out about their rights through how others treat them. They are learning about expressing themselves, their interdependence with others, how valued they are. They are also learning about sharing, making choices and their place in the world.

Early childhood is a critical period for the realisation of rights and good early years experiences increase the chances of children being able to realise their rights through childhood.

Human rights for 0-2s

What's most important at this age?

The most important relationship in a baby's life is the one with their parents or carers. A child's survival and growth depends on the care and nurturing the child receives within the family. Love and responsive care, accepting relationships and being involved in everyday routines are important for babies. This is how they begin to make sense of the world.

Babies can express their interests through gaze, movement, facial expressions, noises and sounds. It is important that they are given the opportunities to make decisions and to express themselves as they begin to realise their rights. They can do this through exploration and play, by being offered and making choices and by being allowed to participate freely. They need to develop a sense of their own agency and show their individual personality.

Human rights for 3-5s

What's most important at this age?

This is the perfect starting point to engage young children in discussion and to increase awareness of their own rights. They can learn how to build relationships, become responsible, manage their moods, develop a feelings vocabulary, make good choices, solve problems and feel that they and others belong.

Play is an important part of any very young child's life. It can help them learn to move, share, negotiate and to take on board others' points of view. It can give them a chance to make decisions, express themselves, develop a sense of agency and show their individual personality. Article 31 of the UNCRC says that children have the right to relax, play and take part in artistic and cultural activities. Play is essential to the health and wellbeing of children and is the main way that very young children can engage with their rights.

Article 12 of the UNCRC says that children have the right to have opinions and for these opinions to matter. It says that the opinions of children should be considered when adults make decisions about them. As holders of rights even the youngest children have a right to express their view. By the age of 3 most children can communicate ideas and thoughts in words. They also communicate through play, body language, facial expression, drawing and painting. They are able to make choices, express preferences and demonstrate an understanding of their environment.

It is the responsibility of adults to provide opportunities for children to express their views. Adapting the child's interests, levels of understanding and preferred ways of communicating.

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How a parent or carer can respect a very young child's human rights and engage with these from an early age.

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion A focus on early years practitioners

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion A focus on early years practitioners

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From Dept of Education, Ireland

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion   A focus on early years practioners

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The Alliance Webinar feat Starcatchers (UNCRC implementation in the Early Years)

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The Alliance Webinar feat Starcatchers (UNCRC implementation in the Early Years)

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Starcatchers – UNCRC implementation in the early years

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Free UNCRC Course (Children's Health Scotland)

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Free UNCRC Course (Children's Health Scotland)

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A FREE e-learning resource has been produced by Children's Health Scotland that promotes a greater understanding of the healthcare rights and needs of children and young people (CYP) and their families.

To access the FREE course CLICK HERE.

The e-resource can be easily accessed by families, and practitioners in health and social care, and has been designed to raise awareness of health and wellbeing in relation to CYP.

Commenting on the FREE e-learning resource Development Officer, Anne Wilson said:

We have used our knowledge and expertise in relation to the healthcare rights and needs of children and young people to develop this resource. Feedback has so far been excellent and it is really helping families and practitioners understand a rights-based approach to children's health and wellbeing.

We have designed the e-learning course to embrace The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) so that families and practitioners can make sure children and young people are treated well and get a fair deal.

To access the FREE e-learning course visit: www.enetlearn.com/childhealthscot

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Learn about healthcare rights - Children's Health Scotland

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A FREE e-learning resource has been produced by Children's Health Scotland that promotes a greater understanding of the healthcare rights and needs of children and young people (CYP) and their families. To access the FREE course CLICK HERE. The e-resource can be easily accessed by families, and practitioners in health and social care, and has [...]

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Working in Partnership with Parents (CEC EY Sway)

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Working in Partnership with Parents (CEC EY Sway)

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Reflecting upon your time in the first session we asked you to consider the following questions about your own practice. Why not take the opportunity to share these questions with your colleagues back

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UNCRC Self Evaluation Resource (Education Scotland)

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UNCRC Self Evaluation Resource (Education Scotland)

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Welcome to ThingLink!

This quick tutorial will show you how to create wonderfully engaging experiences with ThingLink.

Create

Simply click the Create button and select the type of project you want to create.

Upload

Select a file from your device to be your base image or video.

Edit

Watch this short video to learn about tag types, basic customization options and the simple publishing process - a perfect intro to editing your thinglinks!

Share

When you’re ready to share your thinglink, click the blue Share button in the top right corner of the page.

Track

Statistics help you understand how many people have seen your content, and what part was most engaging.

UNCRC self-eval toolkit

Do you want to create similar content?

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Ed Scot Improving Gender Balance and Equalities Team

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View the interactive image by EdScot Curriculum Innovation Team

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Published by Together Scotland

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Our Creative Journey (Care Inspectorate)

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Our Creative Journey (Care Inspectorate)

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Case Studies - Looking through the GIRFEC Wellbeing Indicators lens

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UNCRC & The Lundy Model in Early Childhood

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UNCRC & The Lundy Model in Early Childhood

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ECV2020 Keynote Speaker 1 ‘Voice is not enough’: The Lundy model and early childhood

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Children's Rights & The Impact of Lockdown 

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Children's Rights & The Impact of Lockdown 

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Produced by Unicef

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We look at the quality of care in Scotland to ensure it meets high standards. When improvement is needed, we support services to make positive changes.

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Engaging Parents and Families: A toolkit for practitioners

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Engaging Parents and Families: A toolkit for practitioners

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DADx Talk - UNCRC & Fathers Network Scotland

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DADx Talk - UNCRC & Fathers Network Scotland

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DADx Talk - UNCRC Embedding Children's Human Rights

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Know Your Rights (Fact Sheets for Vulnerable Groups in Scotland)

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Know Your Rights (Fact Sheets for Vulnerable Groups in Scotland)

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Available in multiple languages

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We produce legal and know-your-rights factsheets about many issues that affect our clients, some of which are also available in other languages.
Explore our resources below, or search for factsheets and resources by topic.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Asylum & Immigration (PDF)

This factsheet explains what it means to claim asylum, and other immigration advice if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Compensation and Legal Advice (PDF)

This factsheet explains your rights to access compensation, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Education & Employment (PDF)

This factsheet explains your rights to access education and employment, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Gender Based Violence (PDF)

This factsheet explains what gender based violence means, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Health (PDF)

This factsheet explains your rights to access healthcare, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Housing, Welfare Benefits & Money (PDF)

This factsheet explains your rights to access housing, welfare benefits and financial support, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights for Survivors of Trafficking! Identification as a Victim of Trafficking (PDF)

This factsheet explains what it means to be identified as a victim of trafficking and how you can tell if you are a victim of human trafficking or exploitation, as well as how to access legal advice, and other support in Scotland.

This factsheet is part of a series of Know Your Rights! factsheets that provide information for people (adults) from abroad who have experienced human trafficking and/or exploitation, on your rights and support in Scotland.

Know Your Rights! Information for Trafficked Women from Abroad in Scotland (PDF)

This Know Your Rights! booklet provides information for Trafficked Women from Abroad on your rights and support in Scotland. Being a victim of trafficking or exploitation can have a long-term impact on you and affect many parts of your life. You may also find it difficult to adjust to living in a new country or place. But you are not alone. There is help for you to start recovering from your experiences and help you settle into your new life. This booklet gives information on some of the help available to you and who to contact

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When you have a family, it can be really hard to manage your money (let's face it, having a family is expensive), and thinking about it can feel like a huge weight on your shoulders. As your kids get older, different costs seem to crop up and it can be difficult managing costs that come in when you aren't expecting them.

We've lots of tips and advice to help support you, from understanding benefits and grants, to budgeting ideas and reducing debt. Managing money can be stressful, but you're not alone - we're here to show you where you can get the right support to help you make the most of your money.

Join the club

Sign up to our newsletter and receive regular emails to help with all the ups and downs of being a parent. No spam, just sprogs!

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When you have a family, it can be really hard to manage your money. But you're not alone - we're here to show you where you can get the right support to help you make the most of your money.

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Parental Advice: Parenting, Working & Your Rights

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Parental Advice: Parenting, Working & Your Rights

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ACAS

British Deaf Association (BDA) Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland

Deaf Roots and Pride (DRP) Transitions Scotland, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Robertson Trust, is aimed at Deaf children and young people (aged 8-25 years), living in central Scotland, who are transitioning from primary to secondary education or from secondary to further education and work.

Website: Visit the BDA Deaf Root Pride website

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Family Friendly Working Scotland

Fathers Network Scotland

Healthy Working Lives

Home Energy Scotland

The Home Energy Scotland freephone hotline offers free and impartial energy advice on how to reduce your fuel bills and keep your home warm and find out if you are eligible for energy efficiency schemes.

Website: Visit the Home Energy Scotland website.

Maternity Action

Maternity Action is the UK’s leading charity committed to ending inequality and improving the health and well-being of pregnant women, partners and young children – from conception through to the child’s early years.

Website: Visit the Maternity Action website.

Parenting Across Scotland

ParentLine Scotland

Parentzone Scotland

The one-stop-shop for information and advice on all aspects of education and learning in Scotland, from babies to post-16 opportunities. As well as useful tips on supporting your child’s learning and choosing the right early learning and childcare, there is information on all publicly funded schools in Scotland.

Website: Visit the Parentzone Scotland website.

Scottish Childminding Association

Scottish Families Information Service

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Useful websites and links for parenting, working and your rights.

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Maria Joanna Galli

Maria is a dual-qualified solicitor in Scotland and Australia; most recently having completed post-graduate studies at the University of Strathclyde (LLM-Masters in Law (Mediation and Conflict Resolution).

Since admission as a solicitor and Notary Public in 1990, Maria has worked in criminal and civil litigation, in both Scotland and Sydney, and has been employed in various private and public law roles: including as a Children’s Reporter, Safeguarder, curator ad litem; Sheriff Court Reporting Officer ( Bar Reporter) and most recently as an Education Officer with lead responsibility for child protection and safeguarding for the Education Quality Improvement and Inclusion team, within a local authority.

Accredited as a Law Society of Scotland Specialist in Child Law in 1995, Maria has pursued her career specialising in all areas of child law, policy and practice, from children’s referrals; adoption and permanence; parental rights and responsibilities; education law (including Additional Support for Learning); youth justice; corporate parenting and human rights.

Working within the 3rd sector on a pro bono basis, Maria hasTogether (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)been accredited a  Religious Education Teacher and as a Debating Adjudicator within Australian schools. Maria continues to volunteer as a Director and Company Secretary with a charitable organisation, Ayrshire Cancer Support, a cause very close to her heart. In 2015, Maria joined the Board of Trustees for TOGETHER (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) as an observer and now as Trustee and Vice-Chair.

In October 2018, Maria was delighted to join the team of the office of the
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland as Legal Officer, offering legal advice and support to the Commissioner in upholding and defending the human rights of children and young people in Scotland.

Previously a volunteer with SCLC, Maria brings first-hand experience and in-depth understanding of the difficulties faced by service-users seeking advice as well as the challenges faced with running a charity and has helped develop and present training materials for the SCLC. Maria is passionate about children’s rights and feels privileged to be able to contribute to the work of the SCLC, in assisting children, young people, professionals and families, faced with child law issues.

Joel Meekison

Joel is a Human Rights Activist, an Ambassador for the Year of Young People 2018 in Scotland, and the #iwill campaign (a youth social action campaign).

Since 2017, he has advised and worked alongside Scottish Government, UNICEF, Together SACR since the initial planning stages of the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  As an ambassador for the Year of Young People in 2018 he regularly met with Government Ministers and officials to discuss implementing youth engagement mechanisms.  He has travelled all over Scotland and internationally to advocate for young people’s rights.  Including hosting a seminar at Scotland House, Brussels based on sharing Scotland’s best practice to a European context.  This year published; “A young person’s guide to defending human rights” with Suki Wan in the International Journal of Human Rights.

In addition to his activism he studies Public Relations and Communications at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

Alan Inglis

Alan is both an Advocate and a Barrister.  He began his career as a social worker specialising in child protection and mental health.  He was Called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1989 and has specialised in children’s law since then.  He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2009.  He is the only Counsel practicing in children’s law throughout GB.  He is based in Edinburgh whilst maintaining a place in one of the premier family law Chambers in London.

Rachael MacDonald

Rachael is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in Family Law and is a Senior Associate in the Family Law Team at Harper Macleod, Edinburgh. She has experience in all aspects of family and child law and appears regularly in the Sheriff Court. Rachael is Treasurer and a Committee member of the Family Law Association, a member of Consensus Collaboration Scotland and a tutor on the Undergraduate Family Law LLB Course at the University of Edinburgh. She also sits on Netball Scotland’s Wellbeing and Protection Panel.  Rachael was a volunteer solicitor at the Centre for three years until 2018 when she joined the Board.

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Find Out More About Us | Scottish Child Law Centre

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UNCRC seminar series run by Parenting Across Scotland

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UNCRC seminar series - YouTube

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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CHILD RIGHTS WITH CHILDREN AGED 0–6 YEARS: UNICEF DISCUSSION PAPER

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CHILD RIGHTS WITH CHILDREN AGED 0–6 YEARS: UNICEF DISCUSSION PAPER

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Exploring Children's Rights through Picture Books

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Exploring Children's Rights through Picture Books

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Looking for all Articles by Marie Gallagher?

How picture books can help children understand their rights

Celebrated each year on 20 November, World Children's Day marks the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Exactly 30 years later, the same coalition adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which we have come to know more commonly as the UNCRC. Countries across the world, including Scotland and the UK, have signed up to this, committing to make children's rights a priority in law, policy and service provision. There is even a possibility that the UNCRC will become enshrined in Scots law in the near future.

The first Article of the UNCRC states that children should know about the convention and the rights within it and that grown-ups have a responsibility to help children understand their rights. However, this can feel like a big and abstract concept for practitioners, parents and carers to explain to children, particularly in the early years. How do we begin to open up these conversations about rights in a way that is fun, engaging and age appropriate? At Bookbug, we believe that picture books are the best place to start, so we've created some top tips for using them to explore the UNCRC.

Don't worry about 'correct' terminology

When helping younger children understand their rights, it is okay if we don't directly mention the word 'rights' or use picture books specifically relating to the UNCRC (although many lovely ones do exist - take a look at our book list for inspiration). We can take a holistic and informal approach, whether as part of the early years curriculum or choosing books and activities for the home. The Children's Parliament explains children's rights as things that all children need to feel healthy, happy and safe. That gives us lots of scope for fun and creativity when exploring children's rights with our little ones!

Bring rights to life through character-driven stories

When choosing narrative books, think about stories that need something to change in order for the main character to be healthy, happy and safe. Often this will relate to a fundamental human need, whether emotional or physical. Also, consider the role of the adults within the story - what do they do (or not do) to help? Are they present or absent? Children need to know that the role of grown-ups is to make sure their rights are met.

Have fun with concept books

There are lots of picture books designed to explain ideas or activities through illustrations, engaging rhymes or interactive elements. Many relate to core learning areas such as numbers, shapes, the alphabet or daily routines. In addition to these, lots of children's authors and illustrators provide opportunities to learn about feelings and the diversity of people and the world around them. For example, in Happy To Be Me by Emma Dodd, bold, expressive illustrations and diverse characters highlight all of the things our bodies and minds do for us every day and celebrates the importance of love and friendship. You Choose by Nick Sharratt inspires children to imagine the reality of different types of people, activities and environments and what topics they would like to explore. These concept books are fantastic in supporting the development of emotional literacy and empathy.

Opportunities for choice and participation

As well as books themselves, think about the child's role in book sharing and the environment in which books are shared. Article 12 of the UNCRC states that children have the right to express their views and be listened to. Picture books are an excellent vehicle for helping children feel confident about sharing their opinions and influencing activities. Think about the following key questions when creating participative and inclusive book sharing opportunities:

Do children have the chance to choose books and express their preferences?

Are picture books visible and physically accessible to the children in your setting?

Is there diversity in terms of characters, subject matter and authors/illustrators from a variety of backgrounds?

How can we enrich children's experience of interacting with books through play and creative opportunities?

Celebrate - you are supporting children's rights through the joy of book sharing!

Simply by sharing books with children and building them into our daily routines, we are doing a great deal to promote children's rights, including the right to learn and play, social and emotional development, cultural activities and much more. Book sharing promotes positive relationships between children and their families, which is a perfect basis for children to begin confidently understanding and articulating their rights in a safe and supportive space as they grow.

Take a look at our book list for inspiration on getting started with children's rights and, of course, get in touch to share your suggestions!

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Exploring children's rights through picture books

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Looking for all Articles by Marie Gallagher? How picture books can help children understand their rights Celebrated each year on 20 November, World Children's Day marks the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child.

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Starcatchers: The role of creativity within an early years rights context

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Starcatchers: The role of creativity within an early years rights context

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Developing Child's Voice Practice- Map, Do, Review

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Developing Child's Voice Practice- Map, Do, Review

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Example of 'rights at the heart of the setting'

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Example of 'rights at the heart of the setting'

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The Involvement of Children in Policy Development

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The Involvement of Children in Policy Development

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The Involvement of Children in Policy Development and Launch of the  Equalities Guidance

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Include me: gathering the views of children who may be non-verbal

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Include me: gathering the views of children who may be non-verbal

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Include Me:  Gathering Views of children who may be non verbal 17 May 2021

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Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools: Guidance for Scottish Schools

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Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools: Guidance for Scottish Schools

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Ed Scot Improving Gender Balance and Equalities Team

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UNCRC PL - overview by Ed Scot Improving Gender Balance and Equalities Team

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TOUCH this image to discover its story. Image tagging powered by ThingLink

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Pre-Birth to Three: Rights of the child (Education Scotland)

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Pre-Birth to Three: Rights of the child (Education Scotland)

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Pre-Birth to  Three: Rights of the child

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Inquiry Based Learning with Claire Warden: Racism

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Inquiry Based Learning with Claire Warden: Racism

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In this episode, we tackle the difficult issue of racism. We discuss the possibility of the impact that your racial identity or cultural beliefs have on your access to the natural world.

We have an amazing conversation in which we put ourselves in the position of practitioners who want to look at conscious or unconscious bias in the form of racism, sexism or ageism and it makes us understand that we have a long way to go.

It's so important that we are honest and can have these conversations.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter by searching for Virtual Nature School.

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Racism - Inquiry Based Learning with Dr Claire Warden #26 - Inquiry Based Learning with Dr. Claire Warden

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In this episode, we tackle the difficult issue of racism. We discuss the possibility of the impact that your racial identity or cultural beliefs have on your access to the natural world.

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Reflecting on Anti-racism in the Early Years

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Reflecting on Anti-racism in the Early Years

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The Tapestry Education Conference: Reflecting on Anti-racism in the Early Years

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UNCRC & Sustainability PD for ELC Staff (Glasgow)

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UNCRC & Sustainability PD for ELC Staff (Glasgow)

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Embedding Children's Rights into Practice

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Embedding Children's Rights into Practice

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Example of Nursery Policy linked to UNCRC

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Example of Nursery Policy linked to UNCRC

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Introducing UNCRC to Children (Scotland) 

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Introducing UNCRC to Children (Scotland) 

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Supporting You to Raise Antiracist Children

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Supporting You to Raise Antiracist Children

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Children's Rights in the Early Years Setting by Chrissie Dell 

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Children's Rights in the Early Years Setting by Chrissie Dell 

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Children's Rights in the Early Years Setting

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Rights-based practice in the Early Years (Webinar series from Children's Parliament) 

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Rights-based practice in the Early Years (Webinar series from Children's Parliament) 

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2021 is Children's Parliament's 'Year of Childhood' and highlighting positive rights-based practice in the early years is an important part of this. We want to make children's human rights a reality in Scotland. Can you help us move this forward?

We are asking you to take a little time to examine your practice of promoting, defending, and respecting children's rights, and let us know how you achieve this. This will help us to develop a webinar series that promotes the experiences of those working in early years in Scotland and celebrates the achievements and challenges of a rights-based approach.

This survey is an opportunity to establish areas of good practice in your setting, which you believe are examples of a rights-based approach. We would like you to let us know what aspects your setting does really well, that you are proud of and want to share to help inspire others.

Would you like to tell us about your practice?

You can think about any one or more of these themes to help us understand how you promote the rights of the child in your setting. Perhaps you haven't described your practice as concerned with the rights of the child, if not, or if you are unsure then this is something we can explore with you in conversation. So, do you think about your practice in these ways?

What would you like to know?

As part of our 'Year of Childhood' celebrations, we're keen to develop our webinar conversation series alongside you. We'd therefore like to hear if there are any areas of development or challenges that you see as potential barriers in being able to offer a rights-based approach in Early Years settings in Scotland. Please note, this is a separate form to the one above and your responses to the following will be completely anonymous.

Thank you for taking part. Please spread the word about this consultation to anyone you feel it may interest.
We look forward to being in touch with you soon.

UNCRC incorporation and the Early Years

Incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will bring multiple challenges as the country grasps this opportunity to make our society more inclusive and safer for all. One such challenge is that of baby and infant 'voice' and participation in decision making. Children's Parliament and NSPCC are keen to draw attention to this issue. As such, within our Year of Childhood programme, we hosted a conversation to consider these opportunities and challenges.

To kickstart this dialogue, we invited Professor Kay Tisdall of Edinburgh University, and Julia Donaldson of Glasgow's Infant and Family Team (GIFT) to share their reflections with us on the following question:

"What kind of changes, tools and practices are needed in the system to allow infants' voices to be meaningfully heard and understood in decision making, given the incorporation of UNCRC into Scots Law?"

The following videos capture the conversations that were first shared on Tuesday 29 th June, the tenth anniversary of the Christie Commission. The issue itself is too broad to resolve through these short videos, so we want to assure you that this discussion is an introduction to a larger conversation. We are planning a sector-wide, live-panel discussion, join the Unfearties and we'll keep you updated on this.

The full discussions between Carmel, Julia and Kay can be watched in the playlist below.

The snippets below are provided to highlight specific points in the discussions and to share with your networks.

Our speakers

Julia Donaldson has a background as a clinical psychologist and is currently the Clinical Director of GIFT. The Glasgow Infant and Family Team (GIFT) is a multidisciplinary infant mental health team. Julia and her team work with children aged between 0 and 5 years old who are in kinship care and foster care.

Kay Tisdall is a Professor of Childhood Policy at the University of Edinburgh. She is part of the childhood and youth studies research group and her own policy and academic interests are in children's human rights. She works collaboratively with children, young people and others on research projects addressing participation, in such fields as early childhood learning, domestic abuse and family law.

Carmel Faulkner is the Unfearties Project Lead at Children's Parliament. Her background is in education - specifically early years. Her experience includes leading nursery schools and children's centres. She has an MA in Early Childhood Studies and is currently undertaking her PhD with the Centre for Children's Rights at Queen's University Belfast. Her research seeks to understand the transformative potential of young children's perspectives on their human rights in early years settings located in Rwanda.

Webinars

The audience were asked to submit questions. See below for the speaker's responses to one that wasn't covered in the webinar time.

Question: How do we measure success, given what was said about smiles and the feel of a nursery?

Michelle Doull's Response:
Current practice within your provision supports observation, assessment, recording, and reflection of children's behaviour and relationships. Have confidence in the evidence you gather that captures the smiles, contentment, positive relationships, and upholding of rights, this is your measure of success. The principles of our Health and Social Care Standards underpin this and align with Realising the Ambition and Curriculum for Excellence. Staff and parent perspectives (where possible) will also support your evidence of success.

Doreen Watson's response:
How do we measure success? Success will look different depending upon where we are in our journey to recognising and promoting a rights-based approach. Small improvements will be important and there may be setbacks along the way. Ultimately, I think we measure success when we see children having fun, expressing themselves and benefitting from high quality care, play and learning experiences. Rights are not an add on, they are woven through every aspect of the ethos and provision of the service. Staff interactions with children are loving and caring and support children to understand their rights, not as an activity to be planned but as an everyday experience.
When we don't do, because we feel we must, because someone will evaluate our service poorly if we don't, but we do because we know it is the absolute responsibility of everyone working with and for children to approach their work with children's rights central to our approach. When we don't need to be reminded because it's a natural part of the language and actions in our society and rather it would seem strange not to work in this way.

Doreen's link to the Care Inspectorate's personal plans guidance:
https://hub.careinspectorate.com/media/4653/personal-plans-guide-elc-final-13102021.pdf

Michele kindly shared her slides with us, available here.

Starcatchers' links as mentioned by Rhona:
https://starcatchers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CS-Resource-FINAL.pdf
https://starcatchers.org.uk/work/making-my-mark-2019/

Sarah has very kindly made her slides available for you to download here.

If you'd like to see Lynn's presentation in more detail, it can be found here. Lynn has also been kind enough to share the link to her latest publication with us - the first 50 downloads are free!

Tickets available here.

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Rights-based practice in the Early Years - Children's Parliament

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2021 is Children's Parliament's 'Year of Childhood' and highlighting positive rights-based practice in the early years is an important part of this. We want to make children's human rights a reality in Scotland. Can you help us move this forward?

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All about Children's Rights (EYFS Best Practice)

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All about Children's Rights (EYFS Best Practice)

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All About Children's Rights (EYFS best practice)

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Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland

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Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland

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The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland

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All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children.

All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) expresses these rights within the framework of children's lives and experiences. The rights in the UNCRC are linked together and support each other - so supporting one right, like the right to participate in play, promotes other rights including the right to be heard, to free expression, to development and to education.

Long before young children can understand the concept of children's rights, they can develop a sense of their own agency. Babies and very young children can develop this through relationships with parents and carers, and through their surroundings and environment. Their experience of these early relationships will influence their sense of self, how they view others and how they respond to their environment.

Babies and very young children need to be supported by the adults that care for them to make their own decisions and to be listened to. They need to feel that their ideas, thoughts and decisions are respected.

They are finding out about their rights through how others treat them. They are learning about expressing themselves, their interdependence with others, how valued they are. They are also learning about sharing, making choices and their place in the world.

Early childhood is a critical period for the realisation of rights and good early years experiences increase the chances of children being able to realise their rights through childhood.

Human rights for 0-2s

What's most important at this age?

The most important relationship in a baby's life is the one with their parents or carers. A child's survival and growth depends on the care and nurturing the child receives within the family. Love and responsive care, accepting relationships and being involved in everyday routines are important for babies. This is how they begin to make sense of the world.

Babies can express their interests through gaze, movement, facial expressions, noises and sounds. It is important that they are given the opportunities to make decisions and to express themselves as they begin to realise their rights. They can do this through exploration and play, by being offered and making choices and by being allowed to participate freely. They need to develop a sense of their own agency and show their individual personality.

Human rights for 3-5s

What's most important at this age?

This is the perfect starting point to engage young children in discussion and to increase awareness of their own rights. They can learn how to build relationships, become responsible, manage their moods, develop a feelings vocabulary, make good choices, solve problems and feel that they and others belong.

Play is an important part of any very young child's life. It can help them learn to move, share, negotiate and to take on board others' points of view. It can give them a chance to make decisions, express themselves, develop a sense of agency and show their individual personality. Article 31 of the UNCRC says that children have the right to relax, play and take part in artistic and cultural activities. Play is essential to the health and wellbeing of children and is the main way that very young children can engage with their rights.

Article 12 of the UNCRC says that children have the right to have opinions and for these opinions to matter. It says that the opinions of children should be considered when adults make decisions about them. As holders of rights even the youngest children have a right to express their view. By the age of 3 most children can communicate ideas and thoughts in words. They also communicate through play, body language, facial expression, drawing and painting. They are able to make choices, express preferences and demonstrate an understanding of their environment.

It is the responsibility of adults to provide opportunities for children to express their views. Adapting the child's interests, levels of understanding and preferred ways of communicating.

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All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children. All children have rights, and that includes babies and very young children. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) expresses these rights within the framework of children's lives and experiences.

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Unfearties, together we can make children's human rights real

Feart means scared in Scottish dialect. Unfeart means the opposite - it means being brave. We need people to be brave to support the realisation of children's human rights - to ensure children are healthy, happy and safe wherever they are and whoever they are with.

Please join our band of Unfearties. Wear the Unfeartie badge and make a commitment to learning more about how children's human rights improves children's lives. Join our brave band and become an Unfeartie to find out some of the actions you can take to make children's human rights real.

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Inspiring a world of love, happiness and understanding.

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Children's Parliament is dedicated to the realisation of children's human rights in Scotland. Learn more about what we do and how you can be involved.

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During October 2021, Together hosted a series of State of Children's Rights in Scotland webinars. These webinars offered practical guidance on implementing children's rights-based approaches, provided support to overcome challenges and offered a space to share examples of promising practice ahead of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill's implementation.

Findings from the webinars will be shared in the State of Children's Rights Report 2021 to create a wide range of case studies that illustrate how a rights-based approach can be taken and implemented into your own policy and practice.

Below you will find the introductory presentation on the relevant children's rights topic.
You can also read our State of Children's Rights Reports from previous years here.

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State of Children's Rights Webinar series for 2021

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Together is an alliance of Scottish children's charities that works to improve the awareness, understanding and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We do this by: promoting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; helping children's organisations to integrate the UNCRC into their work; monitoring and reporting on the progress made at a Scottish and UK level.

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Who defines childhood innocence? Anti-racist practice, white fragility and effective allyship in early childhood

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Who defines childhood innocence? Anti-racist practice, white fragility and effective allyship in early childhood

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Who Defines Childhood Innocence? Anti-Racist Practice, White Fragility and Effective Allyship in Early Childhood

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10 May 2021Webinar event co-hosted by the Anti-Racist Early Years Collective (AREYC), the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES) and RACE.EDDespite a wealth of evidence that shows that young children experience direct and indirect racism and discrimination (Kustatscher, 2016; K…

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Becoming an Inclusive, Anti-Racist Early Educator

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Becoming an Inclusive, Anti-Racist Early Educator

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An introduction to children's rights & a rights-based approach

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An introduction to children's rights & a rights-based approach

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An Introduction to Children’s Human Rights and a Rights-based Approach

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Progressing the Rights of Children in Scotland: An Action Plan 2021-2024

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Progressing the Rights of Children in Scotland: An Action Plan 2021-2024

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Activities to explore Children's Rights (ages 3-5)

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Activities to explore Children's Rights (ages 3-5)

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Children's Parliament: Little Book of Promises

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Children's Parliament: Little Book of Promises

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Become an Unfeartie - Children’s Parliament

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“Before, I didn’t feel like I could voice my concerns, but being an Unfeartie helps my confidence as I know there are other people who share my ideas; it makes me feel the courage I need to speak out for

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Become an Unfeartie

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Example of nursery values linked to UNCRC

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Example of nursery values linked to UNCRC