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A Birkenhead nursery was selected to begin working towards a prestigious UNICEF accreditation recognising its commitment to putting children's rights at the centre of everyday learning.
Victoria Park Day Nursery and Pre-school on Albany Road is one of 12 settings chosen by childcare provider Partou to start the journey towards the Rights Respecting School Award, according to Birkenhead News. The award is presented to schools and early years education settings that embed children's rights into their teaching and branding.
The programme, led by UNICEF UK, encourages nurseries to create environments where children feel respected, valued and able to thrive. It also aims to strengthen children's sense of belonging, giving them a voice, and helping them understand the importance of respecting the rights of others.
Those nurseries involved will start by working towards the bronze level of accreditation through training, workshops, and action plans. UNICEF will use a professional adviser for each nursery. There are three levels: bronze, silver, and gold.
The initiative builds on Partou's partnership with UNICEF, announced last year, which supports projects focused on giving more children the best possible start in life through early learning, health and development.
More recently, the childcare provider marked UNICEF's International Day of Play by launching its Partou Guide to Play, a resource designed to help families understand how play supports children's learning and development both at nursery and at home.
Kirsty Jackson, Co-Managing Director at Partou, said the partnership with UNICEF had been an important step in strengthening the organisation's approach to children's rights.
She said: "Working towards RRSA accreditation across all our nurseries is a natural next step as our relationship deepens, with 12 settings chosen as trailblazers on this exciting and rewarding journey."
Martin Russell, UNICEF UK's Programme Director for the Rights Respecting Schools Award, said he looked forward to supporting staff throughout the process.
He added: "Hearing nursery-aged children speaking about some of their rights is always so inspiring."
