Use the Code of Children’s Rights in Early Childcare and Education as a reference to help you complain if you feel your child or children have been denied their rights. An early childhood service that respects children and honours their rights will provide you with a copy of the Code when you enrol your child and display a copy where parents, staff, and other adults can see it.
Every infant, toddler and young child has rights as users of early childcare and education services (as made plain by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1992 and the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993).
Ten Rights
- To be enabled wherever possible to receive care exclusively or primarily from parents and family/whānau.
- To experience early education and childcare that is of the highest standard.
- To receive skilled care and learning opportunities appropriate to meeting needs and personal choices.
- To have continuous, meaningful and caring relationships with the adults responsible for them in the childcare/early education programme that includes supportive relations with parents and family/whānau.
- To be kept safe from harm, including protection from child abuse, bullying, and risks to health.
- To have privacy respected.
- To be included regardless of size, special ability, or disability and be supported to exercise independence and develop self-esteem.
- To be treated with respect including being involved in all decisions affecting them by receiving information in a way that is understandable, having opportunities to express views, ask questions and receive truthful responses.
- To receive positive guidance free from coercion and discrimination.
- To complain if necessary and have complaints as put forward by parents/caregivers taken seriously.