Peer Listeners
Objectives of our school councillors
To give ALL children a voice which is heard, acknowledged and supported.
Being a Peer Listener gives children a sense of pride, a new responsibility and a great sense of satisfaction knowing that they are helping other people.
It is the Peer Listeners overall role to provide support and a listening ear to other children in our school, while being supervised by the class teacher and the Mental Health Lead. The Peer Listeners receive bespoke training and supervision throughout the school year. They are identified around the school by wearing an orange shield badge.
The Peer Listeners meet once a week in a supervised session led by the Mental Health Lead. They are paired with a class and have provided and customised a worry box for their class. Once a week, they collect their worry boxes (after class teacher has looked at the contents first) and discuss as a group particular worries identified by each class/child. They are advised how to respond and then they support the child/children as a sympathetic and supportive peer friend. This is a very responsible role.
At Bishop Wilson C. of E. School, we strongly believe that we all have a gift and we encourage children and adults to use these gifts to help others.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
The aims of the programme are that:
- Pupils feel confident that their voice is heard, making our school a better place for all;
- Children develop a friendship and support system;
- Children the opportunity to understand that their voice matters, is heard and is acted upon.
Peer Listener Guidelines
The aim of the Peer Listeners is to encourage children to express their concerns and worries. This role is between class teacher, peer listener and the Mental Health Lead. If safeguarding concerns are raised, this will be shared with the DSL and dealt with according to the safeguarding policy.
Peer Listener Meeting Organisation
It is the aim of the school that the meetings are run and led by the Mental Health Lead (due to the potential sensitivity of the worry boxes) and supported by the peer listeners
Each Peer listener has been allocated a designated class.
Their Classes are:
Year 6: Zuzanna and Harley
Year 5: Zuzanna and Harley
Year 4: Remy and Paisley
Year 3: Kaitlyn and Tia
Year 2: Ronnie and Alice
Year 1: Nancy and Omari
Rec 1: Elise, Nefeli and Lincoln
Rec 2: Isobell and Thomas
Nursery: Chloe-Lee and Martyna