Make Your Voice Count: Participate in the Census and Have Your Say!

1. KeyStage 1 KeyStage 2 • The census gives every household across the country the chance to be heard. When we fill in the census, everyone of us is helping to build a snapshot of life in the UK. I Count Approved Census image here

2. I Count This is vital because central and local government, health authorities and many other organisations use the census data to plan housing, education, health and transport services.

3. I Count The census is older than the Chinese, Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations! In 4000BC, Babylonians used a census to plan how much food they needed to find for each member of the population.

4. What is the census today? I Count The census is a count of all people and households in the United Kingdom. We all fill the census in to make sure our voices are heard. The results of the census help us plan services such as schools, hospitals, housing and transport across the country.

5. The census gives us all a chance to be heard. I Count In small groups, let’s discuss: What does it mean to haveyour voice heard? What does it mean to haveyour say? The different ways we canhave our say.

6. I Count During our discussions we: Listen to and respect each other’s opinions. Respect each other’s choices.

7. I Count Where does my voice countat school? Where does my voice countoutside school? Who can we talk to? Have we ever had our say andmade something change? Is this democratic? What is a democracy?

8. KeyStage 2 I Count UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12 (respect for the views of the child): “Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.”

9. KeyStage 2 I Count Let’s discuss: How does this relate to your rightto express your opinion? How does this relate to your rightto be listened to? Can you think of times when childrenmight not be listened to? Why do these rights need to exist? Useful links The UN Convention on the Rights of the Childwww.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/un-convention-child-rights/ A Summary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (see Articles 12 and 13)www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/UNCRC_summary-1.pdf

10. I Count Year 6 Task: Write a persuasive letter to argue for a change you believe should happen in your local area or at school. Remember to: Think about who has power or influence in the area that the issue relates to. Identify who the letter should be addressed to. Select appropriate grammar and vocabulary, showing that you understand how such choices can change and enhance meaning. Use a wide range of devices to build cohesionwithin and across paragraphs.

11. I Count EYFS What Ithink matters!

12. I Count Every 10 years we hold a census across the whole country. The census gives everybody the chance to have their voices heard. The government uses this information to plan for what the country will need over the next 10 years.

13. I Count Today we’re going to look at how we can have our voices heard at school. Perhaps we will help the school plan! We’re going to do this by asking our opinion about things that matter in the school.

14. I Count What does opinion mean? An opinion means our thoughts aboutthings in our life and in our world.

15. I Count What is your opinion about the playground? What do you like best about the playground? What do you think could make the playground even better?

16. I Count What is your opinion about school lunches? What do you like best about school lunches? What do you think could make the school lunches even better?

17. I Count When can you have your say aboutthings you do or don’t like? Who can you talk to? Who are the people who shouldlisten to you?