Exploring the Extent of Enactment of Young Children's Rights in the Education System in Wales

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) (UNCRC) is the most widely ratified of all the human rights treaties. In contrast to recent UK-wide developments, the UNCRC has been vigorously taken up in post-devolution policy and law in Wales. The Assembly's stance on children's rights distinguishes Welsh policy from the rest of the UK and children's rights have been described as 'emblematic' of Welsh devolution. This paper presents the findings of a review of readily available empirically based literature that evidences the extent to which young children in Wales (aged three to seven) routinely access their rights in education settings. The findings are presented under eight themes and provide a picture of inconsistency as well as some positive indicators. Reasons for a limited, patchy and variable evidence base for the enactment of young children's right in education settings in Wales are considered, alongside recommendations for action that would seek to address such shortfalls.