As part of our drive to develop pupils’ independent learning and to use every available moment of the school day, we have recently developed a new initiative called “Study Buddies”.
The project uses Y6 pupils in peer mentor role to support Y2 children carry out additional research during lunchtimes. Supported by a teacher, the Study Buddies set up safe web-links to interactive learning sites appropriate to the topics currently being studied by the younger children.
Every lunchtime the Y6 pupils set up a mobile ICT suite and invite their Y2 buddies to join in some extra learning!
We’re in the early days, having run the system for only a few weeks, but so far all of the children involved are very enthusiastic, and the plan is to roll-out the project to cater for children of more year groups.
Similarly, discussions are currently underway to apply the same principle but diversify the audience, and invite senior citizens from the sheltered accommodation close by to find out about how the Internet can help them!