Nursery World - Teachers insist on pupils' rights

Scotland's largest teaching union has called for all children of nursery age to have access to education in a nursery class led by a fully qualified nursery teacher. The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said it believed this should be one of the principles of a children's charter. Such a charter should guarantee children's right to quality premises, smaller class sizes and an education free from disruption by unruly behaviour.

Scotland's largest teaching union has called for all children of nursery age to have access to education in a nursery class led by a fully qualified nursery teacher.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said it believed this should be one of the principles of a children's charter. Such a charter should guarantee children's right to quality premises, smaller class sizes and an education free from disruption by unruly behaviour.

The EIS will urge the Scottish Executive to legislate that 'everyone in the school setting has rights'. Ronnie Smith, EIS general secretary, said it should be a child's right to have equal access to teachers. He said, 'The recent commitments of the Scottish Executive to a reduction in class sizes is much to be commended. It is now time to put these commitments into practice.'

He added, 'While there are still schools with classes with over 30 children there cannot be proper access of pupils to teachers at a time when the curriculum is changing rapidly. Reducing class size to reasonable levels must be a central consideration for the Executive and also an essential right for children.'

Mr Smith said that children should also have a right to a proper educational environment. 'The days of shabby, leaky, crumbling, even dangerous schools with little recreational space for children must be numbered.'

He outlined a number of areas that could be cornerstones of a children's charter. 'A good starting point would be the promotion of equality and excellence for all pupils in Scottish schools,' he said. 'This would mean, for example, a clear priority to countering the inequalities in Scottish society including poverty. It would mean recognising fully the individual needs of young people and treating all children with equal respect.'

Mr Smith said the EIS would be contacting the education minister, Peter Peacock, directly on this issue and would also be making representations to the Scottish Parliament. However, it may be unlikely that the EIS will have its wish granted, as the Executive has pointed out that children's rights are already enshrined in Children Act 1995 and the Scotland Schools Act 2000, reflecting the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.