“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Dignity and rights of the child.
Element 5.1.2: The dignity and rights of every child are maintained.
What practices is your Service implementing to ensure the dignity and rights of the child are upheld at all times and how is this documented as evidence?
Following on from last week’s QIP Nudge, where we delved into the ECA Code of Ethics, this week we’re focusing on ensuring that the dignity and rights of the child are upheld.
Maintaining the dignity and rights of the child in early childhood is essential for fostering their holistic development and well-being. The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the advocacy of children’s dignity and rights form the foundation of both the ECA Code of Ethics, the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 (EYLF) and My Time Our Place V2.0 (MTOP) frameworks.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each child and young person, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability. The Convention states that all children have the right to an education that lays a foundation for the rest of their lives, maximises their ability, and respects their family, cultural and other identities and languages. The Convention also recognises children’s right to engage in play and, in school age care, recreational activities, their right to rest and leisure, and their right to be active participants in all matters affecting their lives (Early Years Learning Framework and Framework for School Age Care).
Ensure documentation is maintained of educator’s reflections about how the Service maintains the dignity and rights of all children and how the articles from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are reflected within your Service practices and include these in your self-assessment. Identify strategies for improvement as part of your continual improvement and document these in your Service’s Quality Improvement Plan.
Provide evidence of how educators support and guide children to make positive choices managing their own behaviour and to develop the skills to negotiate and resolve conflicts or disagreements with others- self-regulation, acknowledgement of children making positive choices, educators modelling how people relate respectfully in their daily interactions with children, colleagues, and families.
Upholding the dignity and rights of the child in practice:
-
-
- Display the UNCRC and promote with families/service community via your newsletter and information sharing apps
-
- Documenting reflections on children’s experiences at the service including whether all children’s rights are being upheld
-
- Documenting professional discussions and reflections unpacking the UNCRC
-
- Maintaining documentation about children’s backgrounds, cultures, diverse views, values, beliefs and individual needs and documenting how these are considered when programming and planning for the individual needs of children
-
- Educators ensuring that children’s dignity is always respected during personal care routines such as toileting, nappy changing and changing clothes
-
- Educators guide children’s behaviour positively, including encouraging them to reflect on and consider the impact of their behaviour
-
- Educators receive a copy of the ECA Code of ethics as part of their induction package and review and reflect on it periodically
-
- Creating and arranging learning spaces, routines and manage the use of resources that minimise times when children are likely to experience stress or frustration or made to wait unnecessarily and for extended periods of time
-
- Children are supported to make informed decisions and choices that allow them to experience consequence of actions in a safe and controlled way
-
- The dignity and rights of children is promoted through the service’s relevant policies/procedures i.e., Sleep and Rest, Toileting, Behaviour Guidance Policies, Educational Program, Celebrations/Social Events etc.
-
- Educators pre-empt potential conflicts when monitoring children’s play and intervening where appropriate
-
- Educators consistently respond to children positively with their language, tone, body language and facial expressions
-
- The Service uses a range of diverse resources to celebrate different cultures and backgrounds
-
- Respectfully considering information received from families, other professionals, resource agencies and schools, and responding appropriately to support the rights of children
-
- Educators foster each child’s sense of identity and belonging
-
- The Service actively and consistently invites and encourages families to share their knowledge of their culture, customs, traditions and values and promotes these with children and families across the Service
-
- Educators show respect for and value children’s opinions, ideas, and perspectives in decision-making processes that affect them and encourage active participation and involvement in activities, discussions, and planning
- There is evidence of adjustments and accommodations made to the educational program, routines and the physical environment to ensure inclusion of all children
-
Resources:
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
ECA Code of Ethics Publications
Exploring Celebrations in Children’s Services
Within System7 go to Quality Area 5/Modules 3 & 4 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with element 5.1.2. These include Anti-bias and Inclusion Policy, Gender Equity Policy, Interactions with Children, Staff and Families Policy, Educational Program and Practice Procedure, Toileting Policy, Behaviour Guidance Policy, Critical Reflection Template, and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 5/ 5.1.2- Dignity and rights of the child
National Regulations – 73, 115, 155, 156, 168
System7 Module – QA 5/ Modules 3 & 4
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
