You will probably remember how it was when you first started school. As the youngest and the smallest group of children in the school, playtime could be quite daunting. At Coltishall Primary they overcome this with the ‘buddy’ system. For each of the reception and Year 1 children, an older ‘buddy’ from Year 4 or 5 is chosen by the teachers.

The younger children are introduced to their ‘buddy’ and have the opportunity to share a playtime in order to get to know each other. Beyond that, what does a buddy do? Ben explained it this way:

‘If you are upset or hurt, then you can go to your buddy who will try to sort out the problem or take you to a teacher. If you feel lonely and have nobody to play with, you can find your ‘buddy’ who will look after you.’

This buddy system must not only give the older children a sense of responsibility but would also reduce the likelihood of any bullying. For the younger children it gives them a greater sense of security in their early years at school.

Ben tells me that they also have a ‘naughty bench’. If you have been misbehaving during playtime, you are sent by the teachers to the naughty bench for a period related to the degree of naughtiness. A sort of ‘sin bin’.

Ben assures me he has never been sent to the naughty bench.