Tom Lewis is wellbeing coordinator at Cogan Primary School who helped identify areas for improvement after the school got its SHRN survey results.
He said: “There were relationships with friends that children are struggling with. This is in Year 6 – the data was slightly lower than Year 4 and 5.
“So it was basically how children engage with their peers and friends and the other area was their appearance and how they see themselves, so that’s self-confidence.”
The Flourish project focuses on teamwork, self-esteem and building confidence and, for Lola, Skylar and Eliza, the results were overwhelmingly positive.
Sorraya said Eliza learned to speak up a bit and be more assertive and it also calmed worries about keeping a small circle of friends so she could relax into being part of a wider circle, which has helped with her transition to secondary school.
Lucy was shocked when, after the course, Lola told her she wanted to join a football team, despite not knowing anyone who played.
“She’s still there now and she made friends who were going up to high school. That is massive for her to step into something. She’s not that sporty either so it was putting herself out there.”
Skylar found having a different environment to open up in made it easier for her to realise it was OK to get things wrong and to ask for help.
Tom said class teachers noticed children who took part in the sessions had a more creative perspective and approach to solving problems, helping the wider group in the class, as well as boosting their academic performance.
The programme is now on its fifth intake and Tom thinks many factors, including Covid and the cost of living, have played a part in the survey’s results.
But, he added: “Society has changed in many ways. It’s down to schools to adapt to those changes and how we engage with children.”