A collaborative research team involving Swansea University has examined the policy framework around the participative rights of children in Welsh primary schools, publishing their findings in a new policy briefing.
The Children's Participation in Schools project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), challenges the issue of translating policy intention into education practice, with a focus on young children’s participation rights in classrooms and schools.
The project’s first policy briefing marks the completion of its initial phase, a comprehensive analysis of Welsh educational legislation and policy documents spanning from 1999 to 2023.
This work has resulted in three key recommendations:
- Future education policy in Wales should continue to account for children’s participative rights.
- Children should be recognised as active rights holders in their ‘now’, not only as future citizens.
- More guidance is needed that considers how children’s participative rights are enacted in education practice.
The policy brief and associated publication serve as a valuable resource for educators, school leaders, and policymakers dedicated to fostering inclusive and participatory learning environments for young children.
Dr Jacky Tyrie, Co-Investigator for the Children's Participation in Schools project and Senior Lecturer in Education and Childhood Studies at Swansea University, said: “Following analysis of the policy landscape, it is clear that while there is a strong commitment to children’s participative rights in Welsh policy, there are significant gaps in its implementation and a need for more guidance around children’s ‘right to be heard’ in schools.”
Swansea University is one of several institutions to collaborate on this project, part of the Education Research Programme, joining the University of the West of England (UWE), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Dr Alison Murphy, Co-Investigator for the Children's Participation in Schools project and Lecturer in the Athrofa: Institute of Education at UWTSD, added: "Our analysis reveals a strong policy commitment in Wales to children's participative rights. However, there remains a gap between policy intentions and classroom practices. This briefing aims to bridge that gap by providing actionable insights for educators and policymakers."
Read the full policy briefing.
Find out more about the Children's Participation in Schools project.