Beating the bullies

COMPUTER games, too much TV and a diet of junk food and chips are all having an effect our children’s waistlines. While Oldham schools are celebrating a decade of healthy eating, pupils at Littlemoor Primary have been working on ways to help children feel better emotionally as well as physically in a bid to combat bullying. Reporter Karen Doherty found out more . . .

VICTIMS of bullying often feel isolated, with nowhere to turn.

But children at Littlemoor Primary School know exactly who to speak to if they are being picked on — their fellow pupils.

That’s because they have created an anti-bullying council made up of 18 children aged between seven and 11.

There are bullying boxes around the school where children can post concerns while council members, chosen by their peers, hold drop-in sessions.

Council members then meet with both parties to establish what is going on and why — and explain why bullying is not acceptable.

Everything is confidential and Year 5 teacher Laura Pilley, Littlemoor’s personal, social, health and economic education co-ordinator, explained that this was usually enough to stamp out the problem.

“Children tend to say they are sorry or they did not realise they were upsetting someone,” she said.

“The council explains what will happen in the future. They are warned if it does continue it will be passed on to the senior management team.

“In six months we have only had one repeat offender so it’s been really successful and a lot of friendships have been built up between children who were having problems. The council members are very sympathetic to everyone who comes in front of them. They are very much aware that if someone is bullying they are usually unhappy.

“The children on the anti-bullying council are very different to the children we would have on the school council. They may be the more boisterous boys who are nominated because they are popular.

“The children have to go through a big process themselves just to make them suitable for the anti-bullying council.”

The council is part of Littlemoor’s Healthy Schools Status. The philosophy behind the Government initiative is that healthy children do better at school, behave better and have good habits which will set them up for life.

To achieve the status, schools have to meet a number of criteria in four categories — healthy eating, physical activity, emotional health and well-being, and personal, social health.

Launched in Oldham a decade ago, the borough has reached its target of of 95 per cent of primaries achieving the standard by March of this year, with the rest due to do so soon.

On the ground, that translates into countless imaginative projects such as “Golden Boot” awards for walking to school or the “Birthday Bookworm” which encourages children to donate a book rather then bring in sweets to celebrate their birthday.

Healthy tuck shops are popular and pupils have been trained as sports leaders to organise playtime activities.

There have also been healthy cooking sessions for mums because the the aim is to involve everyone — parents, staff and governors.