ABSTRACT
Inclusion is a core principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). The articles support non-discrimination, optimal development, best interest and the voice of the child, all of which are central to supporting inclusive pedagogies. This chapter will focus primarily on the children’s rights approach in Wales and how this is translated into the policy context. According to the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure (2011), the UNCRC is placed centrally in children’s educational experiences so that it is at the core of school planning, teaching, decision-making, policies and practice in Wales. This chapter explores the current educational context in Wales for young children as well as initiatives such as The Right Way: A Children’s Rights Approach for Education in Wales (Children’s Commissioner for Wales 2017) and Rights Respecting Schools Award (UNICEF 2021). Wales is in the midst of major reform of its education system and therefore the possible impact of Curriculum for Wales 2022 on children’s rights and inclusion will also be examined.
