Teens boost achievement through toddler mentor programme

Hollingworth Academy students Emily Russell, 14, Orlaith Harrison Maskew, 15, Robert Green, 14, James Sefton, 14, and Teens and Toddlers programme assistant, Leah Pendlebury, with pupils from Crossgates Primary School in Milnrow, Rochdale

Secondary school students from across the borough are being given the chance to mentor young primary school and nursery children as part of a scheme to help boost their confidence, grades and attendance.

The ‘Teens and Toddlers: Aim for More’ programme offers pupils attending Hollingworth and Wardle Academies, Oulder Hill Community School and Kingsway Park, Matthew Moss and St Cuthbert’s High Schools the chance to spend half a day per week at a local nursery or primary school, linking them with a reception or first year pupil.

The mentors are encouraged to model behaviour for their young charges and help them in the classroom while also working towards a QCF level 3 award in personal and social development.

The initial 18 week course is then followed up by regular monthly one-to-one sessions in the lead-up to the older students’ GCSEs, helping them to build on the confidence and maturity developed while working with the younger children and using it as motivation to achieve their own goals, as well as an additional QCF level 1 speaking and listening in English.

Councillor Kieran Heakin, assistant to cabinet member for children's social care at Rochdale Borough Council, who visited the scheme between St Cuthbert’s students and St John’s Nursery, said: “This is a win-win for both sides of the programme. The older children get the chance to be a role model which is a huge boost for their self-esteem, while the younger students get some quality one-on-one interaction and supervision, which helps develop their own language and social skills.”

Robert Green, 14, a pupil at Hollingworth Academy who joined the scheme this year as a mentor for a pupil at Crossgates Primary School, said: “I’ve got a little sister on the way and doing this course helps me know how to deal with small children. I teach them manners, help them to share and sort out any little disagreements.

“I feel more responsible; I have to be mature and set an example, whereas when I’m at school I might act more silly with my mates. Working with the younger children changes my mood: I enjoy it. I love seeing them laugh and have a good time.”

Samantha Marcus, business development manager for the Teens and Toddlers programme, said: “We are now into the second year of the initiative within Rochdale and have seen some really fantastic results. Young children don’t judge, which allows the teenagers on the scheme to be a positive role model sometimes for the very first time.

“It’s a pleasure to see them get involved and watch their confidence grow, and there is a marked improvement in pupils’ school attendance, behaviour and grades.”

Jane Brown, associate assistant headteacher and inclusion manager at Hollingworth Academy, said: “When we first got involved with the programme there were some initial concerns that some of the more vulnerable young people may not be able to handle the additional responsibility, but we have seen some amazing progress from the students.

“They have all really enjoyed it and we’ve even had pupils on the edge of exclusion completely turning their behaviour around. It gives them a chance to reflect, offers them an outlet from the usual pressures at school and can really break down barriers to learning.”

Councillor Donna Martin, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This is a really inspiring programme and a great example of using lateral thinking to achieve better outcomes for our young people.”