In Reception, children learn about their rights through carefully planned lessons and daily experiences that are woven throughout all areas of the curriculum. From the very beginning of the year, children are introduced to the UNICEF Rights of the Child in an age-appropriate way, helping them understand that every child has the right to be safe, healthy, educated, cared for and listened to.

Through dedicated PSHE lessons, children explore what rights are and discuss the things all children need to grow, learn and thrive, such as food, water, a home, healthcare, education and play. They take part in practical activities, including sorting rights and wants, discussing real-life scenarios with talk partners and exploring how rights help children to stay safe and healthy.

Children are also given regular opportunities to develop their understanding through literacy. They write simple sentences about rights, using their growing phonics knowledge to record ideas such as "I have the right to learn" and "I have the right to play." This not only deepens their understanding of children's rights but also supports the development of early reading and writing skills.

Rights are further embedded through role play, class discussions, story time, outdoor learning and everyday classroom interactions. Children are encouraged to listen to one another, share their ideas, make choices and show kindness and respect, helping them understand both their rights and their responsibilities towards others.

By integrating children's rights across all areas of learning and daily practice, Reception creates a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, respected and empowered. This strong foundation helps children develop a lifelong understanding of fairness, respect, equality and the importance of ensuring that everyone's rights are protected.