At a glance

Partou, a UK day nursery provider, has selected 12 of its nurseries to work towards the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) in collaboration with UNICEF. This initiative aims to embed children's rights in the nurseries' ethos and practice, fostering environments where children feel respected and valued. The nurseries will initially aim for the bronze level of accreditation, with the long-term goal of achieving higher levels across all settings.

Partou, one of the UK’s leading day nursery providers, has chosen 12 settings to start working towards Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) accreditation as the next step in its partnership with UNICEF.

The RRSA is presented to early years settings and schools that place children’s rights at the heart of their ethos and practice.

The programme aims to create environments where children feel respected, valued and able to thrive.

It also seeks to strengthen children’s sense of belonging, promoting their voice and encouraging them to become responsible and active citizens, all externally verified by UNICEF.

The RRSA is achieved through participation in a series of learning activities including online training and workshops, leading to the development of an action plan which is then implemented with support from a UNICEF professional adviser.

There are currently three levels of accreditation: bronze, silver and gold. The 12 Partou nurseries will initially work towards the bronze award, with the longer-term aim of all Partou settings achieving the accolade.

Last year, Partou - which operates more than 100 settings in the UK - announced an official partnership with UNICEF through which it is supporting a portfolio of targeted early learning initiatives and broader flexible funding, ensuring more children have the right to the best possible start in life, nurturing/supporting their health, learning and development.

Partou also recently celebrated UNICEF’s International Day of Play by launching the ‘Partou Guide to Play,’ a specially produced publication designed to help families better understand how play supports children’s development in nurseries and at home.

Kirsty Jackson, Partou Co-Managing Director, said: “We are proud of our close working partnership with UNICEF which possesses unique local and global insight on children’s rights.

“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.

“By engaging with the Rights Respecting Schools Award, Partou is underlining our absolute commitment to providing nurturing, inclusive environments where children understand their rights, respect others, and develop the skills and values needed for lifelong success.”

Martin Russell, UNICEF UK Programme Director for RRSA, said: “We look forward to supporting the staff in Partou nurseries to learn about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and to see how their great work with children can be underpinned and further strengthened through a child rights approach.

“Hearing nursery aged children speaking about some of their rights is always so inspiring!”