Young Wales Newsletter January 2024 www.childreninwales.org.uk
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Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sgêr’s Children’s Rights Journey
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UNESCO International Day of Education
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Children in Wales Membership
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Children in Wales Training
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s ’ r ê g S r ’ O h c r e F Y l o g s Y
s ’ n e r d l i Ch s t h g Ri
y e n r u o J
Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sgêr is very proud to be a rights respecting school. Having started our journey in the Autumn of 2018 as part of our pupil wellbeing strategy, we were awarded our Silver Children’s Rights award in the Spring of 2019. We have been continuing to raise awareness of Children’s Rights within our school community and beyond ever since. Our Children’s Rights Programme runs throughout the school year with focus being given to individual articles of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child in a weekly assembly.
The programme is launched every September with each class being provided with a copy of the rights in the form of a poster. The School Council presents the concepts of ‘Needs and Wants’ in a whole school assembly and pupils from all classes are set the challenge of establishing a class Rights Charter and a Needs and Wants chart. Rights are often associated with special events on the school calendar for instance Children in Need Day, Anti-bullying week and World Water Day and children undertake related activities in class appropriate to their age and stage of development.
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Parents are encouraged to be a part of our programme and a flyer encouraging parents to support their child’s rights to education, water, healthy food and play are distributed at the beginning of the school year. The children’s right to express their opinions is secured by an active School Council and all children take part in a reflection and planning session on a Friday afternoon to evaluate their prior learning and to plan for the week ahead. Projects with agencies such as the NSPCC, the Police School Liaison Service, the Fire Service and Kerb Craft ensure that the children’s right to be safe is given a high priority and Playground Peacemakers support peers to treat each other respectfully during breaktime. This year we are acknowledging how
important play is for our wellbeing and securing our right to play further by holding monthly ‘Outdoor Learning Days’ and ‘Wellbeing Days’. We have also composed Children’s Rights songs which we enjoy performing at every opportunity. Whilst learning about our rights we also ensure that our pupils develop an awareness of equity and equality and that they understand that with rights come responsibilities-the responsibility of ensuring that we do our best to respect and secure the rights of others at every opportunity.
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UNESCO International Day of Education UNESCO’s International Day of Education will be held on 24 January 2024.
2021 - Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation
This year’s theme of “Learning for Lasting Peace” is particularly pertinent at this time. However, the wider issues of education should not be forgotten – UNESCO estimates that over 250 million children and youth are out of education, and there are around 763 million adults who are unable to read or write. Education is a basic human right, and this day focuses attention on the rights of women, children and men to an education.
2022 -Changing Course, Transforming Education
The resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 3 December 2018, proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. The resolution demonstrated the unwavering political will to support transformative actions for inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. Previous themes have been: 2020- Learning for People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace
2023 – To Invest in People, Prioritise Education UNESCO is the specialized United Nations agency for education which sees education as key to building sustainable and resilient societies, UNESCO views education as key to reaching its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Audry Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director General stated, “we will not succeed in breaking the cycle of poverty, mitigating climate change, adapting to the technological revolution, let alone achieve gender equality, without ambitious political commitment to universal education.” A timely reminder, if we needed it, of the importance of education.
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Children in Wales Training Children in Wales provides a range of high quality, multi-disciplinary training courses, which draw on the resources of our own specialist staff team, and a national network of expert individuals and organisations. We can offer a diverse programme of open training courses, which we are always developing and updating. We can also design training courses specifically for you. For any further information, please email: training@childreninwales.org.uk
Here are a few courses that may be of interest to you: Telling Children Difficult Information - 7 February 2024 - 1 day course - Online with Jon Trew It’s always difficult telling anyone difficult information but telling children can often be that much more difficult. This one-day course will help participants connect with children a nd young people and develop tools and strategies that help support children in the best way possible. “The tutor Jon was really engaging and funny, he set the session in a way that provided appropriate breaks and information that was applicable and manageable to take in. really great course overall.” Transitions: Supporting Young Transgender People - 13 February 2024 - 1 day course Online with Mike Mainwaring Understanding and identifying what transgender means can help create a safe and supportive environment for children & young people experiencing issues. Participants will get an understanding of gender identity and the importance being able to express gender identity. “As always, good training from Mike Mainwaring.”
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Managing for the first time - 19 & 20 February 2024 - 2-day course - Online with Deryl Dix This course aims to provide new managers with a comprehensive introduction to management, developing and building skills and increasing the confidence of participants. This course is aimed at anyone who has recently taken up their first management position.
“Really good content and interaction on the course. Good to go into break out rooms and meet new people with different experiences and takes on the topics.” Designated Safeguarding Lead Training 9 & 10 April 2024 - 2-day course - Online with Natalie Evans
“Really good training where I felt like not only was the information etc shared really helpful, but it was like the trainer Deryl was role modelling the pace, calmness and reflective approach a good supervisor/ manager should have.”
The Designated Safeguarding Lead has a vital role to ensure safeguards are in place and effective actions taken when concerns for a child arise. Suitable for practitioners who are part of Group C and are practicing within a Designated Safeguarding Lead role as described in the National Safeguarding Training, Learning and Development Standards
Teenage Development: How to engage them and their brains - 5 March 2024 1 day course - Online with Mike Mainwaring
“Natalie very upbeat and friendly. It was good to have lots of breakout rooms to discuss and chat as safeguarding can be hard training.”
This course examines the teenage years in terms of physical, psychological, emotional and social development. Examining the issues and looking at how that understanding can help with engaging with and affectively supporting young people.
ACE: Building Resilience in the Face of Adverse Childhood Experiences 16 April 2024 - ½ day course - Online with Sian Bibey
“Brilliant tutor really engaging” Safeguarding Children & Young People 8 March 2024 - ½ day course - Online with Sian Bibey This training is suitable for practitioners who are part of Group B as described in the National Safeguarding Training, Learning and Development Standards, however practitioners from Group A can also attend if more in-depth safeguarding training is required.
“Adverse Childhood Experiences are not just a concern for health. Experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences means individuals are more likely to perform poorly in school, more likely to be involved in crime and ultimately less likely to be a productive member of society”. This course is aimed at professionals working with children & young people who are interested in building an understanding of ACE’s. “Sian was very clear and concise and spoke very well throughout. She made me feel very at ease.”
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Pride and Prejudice: Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People - 25 April 2024 - 1 day course - Online with Sian Bibey This course is aimed at Practitioners, Managers and Policy Makers from all sectors and all organisations keen to explore how their work can support LGBTQ+ young people. Examine new trends in gender identity and sexuality and how this impacts on practice. “Sian was very knowledgeable and had great engagement from the group by using discussions, this made the course enjoyable to be a part of.” Young People and Knife Crime - 09 May 2024 - ½ day course - Online with Sian Bibey On a daily basis we hear news of young people and knife crime, not just in London but in Wales too. Young people are becoming scared of being injured or, sadly, fatally wounded. This course will examine the rise of knife crime, current trends, the law, what staff need to know and what messages they should be giving young people. It will look at ways of supporting young people, when to refer and organisational action plans. “Knowledgeable trainer who was able to adapt the learning needs of the group and individuals. Break out activities and discussion.”
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