MP joins St Winifreds’ pupils on the buddy bench

Pupils at St Winifreds Catholic Primary School in Heaton Mersey have come up with a friendship scheme to show kindness in the playground, and Stockport MP Ann Coffey is visiting the school on Friday to see the scheme in action.

The Playground Friends at St Winifreds have had training in their roles and can easily be spotted in the playground by their yellow caps, which signal to any children who may feel lonely or upset that help is at hand.  Through mediation and compromise, most playground problems can be solved on the special Friendship Bench.

Peer mentoring schemes – which the government has invested

£3 million in helping to develop – have already been shown to be successful during a partnership between schools and Childline in 2005. The schemes work by training pupils to be mentors, offering support to prevent bullying and help children to make friends. 

Ann Coffey said:

“Peer mentoring schemes like this are working really well. The playground friends at St Winifreds take their role seriously and can mediate if children fall out, or make sure children are included in cooperative games and not left out in the playground. Children who are happy are children who can make the most of their education. ”

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Ann Coffey will talk to the playground friends on their Friendship Bench at St Winifreds Primary School, Didsbury Road,  Stockport SK4 3JH, on Friday 9th May at 11am