Children's Participation in Schools Project Publishes Policy Briefing Following Initial Research Phase
The Children’s Participation in Schools project, a collaborative initiative funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is pleased to announce the publication of its first policy briefing.
This milestone marks the completion of the project’s initial phase, which involved a comprehensive analysis of Welsh educational legislation and policy documents spanning from 1999 to 2023.
The project brings together expertise from the University of the West of England (UWE), Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Its primary focus is to explore and promote the participative rights of young children within lower primary education settings in Wales. By examining existing policies and practices, the research aims to identify and establish teaching methodologies that effectively embed children’s participative rights in classrooms and schools.
Dr Alison Murphy, Co-Investigator for the Children’s Participation in Schools project and Lecturer in the Athrofa: Institute of Education at UWTSD, emphasised the significance of this work: “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.”
The policy briefing offers key findings from the legislative and policy analysis, highlighting areas where participative rights are well-supported and identifying opportunities for further enhancement. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, school leaders, and policymakers dedicated to fostering inclusive and participatory learning environments for young children.
Read the policy brief here: https://childrens-participation.org/uploads/Policy%20Briefing.pdf
For more information about the Children’s Participation in Schools project please visit https://childrens-participation.org/publications.
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076