5. Listening to children
It is our policy to listen to the views of a child where possible in Manchester. This is part of our commitment for children.
5.1 The United Kingdom has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), November 1989, which includes the right to be safe, the right to an education, the right to express their views and for due weight to be given to those views.
5.2 MCC actively promotes children’s right to be heard, as stated in the UNCRC and in the statutory guidance ‘Listening to and involving children and young people’, January 2014.
5.3 All children and young people, whether educated at a school or at home are able to join the MCC Youth Council and contribute to consultations. For more information see Appendix 4
5.4 It is helpful if officers from the EHE Team are able to speak directly to the child to understand their experience of home education and to gain reassurance that the educational provision they are receiving is suitable for them. gather their views in order to help inform decisions about suitability of the provision. The DfE guidance states that ‘The local authority may wish to gain the child’s opinion on the suitability of the home education received.as this can be relevant to any decision it needs to make on whether the s.7 requirements are met.’
5.5 MCC has designated 2022 as "2022 Our Year". Elected members, Senior Leadership, partners and all officers aim to give children and young people many more opportunities to express their views in order to help identify priorities and to improve services and facilities in the city.