DALMELLINGTON Primary School and Early Childhood Centre has been honoured for its work in empowering youngsters.
The school has earned a Gold Rights Respecting Award from UNICEF, the leading organisation supporting children and their rights across the world.
It makes the primary school one of just eleven in East Ayrshire to earn this prestigious award, as pupils and staff had to demonstrate that the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child had been embedded into their ethos and curriculum.
An assessor from UNICEF attended the school in March and through interviews with staff, children and parents and carers, assessed that the children and the wider school community knew about and understood the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and could describe how it impacts on their lives and on the lives of children everywhere.
The good news came not long after a positive HM Inspectors of Education (HMIE) report at the facility, focusing on its "positive, caring and nurturing ethos".
Main points from the report centred around the positive environment created in the facilities, as well as the strengths of the staffing teams.
Understandably delighted at the positive spotlight on the school over the past few weeks, headteacher Laura Clapperton said: “The inspectors from Education Scotland joined us for a week in March and participated in all aspects of school life.
"The children had a really important role to play in the inspection process and were enthusiastic participants, which is reflected in the report.
"I am incredibly proud of the children and delighted that they were recognised as confident and friendly."
Inspectors were also keen to ensure the school kept up the high standards by offering some advice for further improvement.
Mrs Clapperton added: “This report is the result of teamwork and collaboration. It reflects the hard work of every member of the school staff and our shared goal of ensuring that every child reaches their full potential.
"The children are at the centre of every decision we take, and their wellbeing is our highest priority.
“This approach is also reflected in our Gold: Rights Respecting Award from UNICEF, which demonstrates that children’s rights are embedded across the school and underpin every part of school life.
“The report by the RRSA assessor demonstrates the importance of children’s rights in the classroom and that the children regularly lead discussions on rights.
“Receiving our HMIE report and Gold: Rights Respecting Award has been a real celebration for our school and the whole community.
"I am very proud of my team and the children.”
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