Rights Respecting Schools

In 2009, Trafalgar Community Infant School were successfully awarded level 1 of the Rights Respecting Schools award and we are now beginning to work towards achieving level 2. This is a UNICEF award, which is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which lays down the rights of all children and young people under the age of eighteen.

Throughout the year the children have been involved in a range of activities which explained that the children have both rights and responsibilities, and that these are linked to each other. For example:

Children have the right to be educated…

…..and the responsibility to learn as much as they can and to help others to learn.

Children have the right to be heard…

…and the responsibility to listen to other people.

Each class explored these ideas by developing their own class ‘charter’. This replaced the class rules with clear statements of the rights and responsibilities of all members of the class. The children also worked with the teaching staff to develop a charter for both the playground and the garden.

At Trafalgar we believe that children should be aware that they have responsibilities as well as rights. Working towards this initiative is enabling the children to develop as responsible citizens for the future, valuing and respecting the rights of others. It is helping to develop their understanding that they have rights, and with rights come responsibilities.

There is a task group of staff and governors who are dedicated to moving this initiative forward within the school. If you have any questions or would like more information, members of the group would be happy to talk to you. The members of the task group are: Mrs K Munson (teacher), Mrs J O'Reilly (teacher) , Mr K Vose (chair of Governors), Mrs W Stanbridge (teaching assistant), Mrs L Abbruzzese (PPA teacher), and Miss K Mills (senior teacher).

There is also a UNICEF website www.unicef.org.uk which contains information about the RRS (Rights Respecting Schools) award. We are also developing a RRS display board in the main foyer area of the school.

Investors in Health and National Healthy School

We have achieved the Investors in Health award and hold National Healthy Schools status.  This identifies that we have met the assessed themes of the programme; Personal, Social and Health Education, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Emotional Health and Well-Being.  This year we are continuing with this work to maintain our standards.

Eco Schools

In 2009, we achieved a Bronze Eco Schools award and are now working towards the Silver award.  We have an Eco team and a recent initiative has been to implement paper recycling throughout the school.  The pond area has been redesigned too and this enhances learning experiences.  We are currently working on composting our fruit and developing our approach to sustainability, which is part of the criteria for the Silver award.  (Please see the section on Initiatives which has more details.)

International School Award

Trafalgar Community Infant School is proud to have achieved the Foundation Level International School Award.  This is to certify that we recognise and have introduced Internationalism to our school.  We are now working towards Level 1.