Primary
The power of peer mentoring in primary schools
Peer mentoring in primary schools is fast becoming a powerful tool for social inclusion. Peer mentoring encourages older students to support their younger peers through both personal development and school related problems. This is proving a valuable contribution to the emotional and social well being of pupils and fits in well along side such programmes as Every Child Matters and SEAL.
MBF ran the National Anti-Bullying Pilot in 35 primary schools which aimed to look at how formalised peer mentoring schemes can be used to support anti-bullying strategies within schools.
MBF ran the National Anti-Bullying Pilot in 35 primary schools which aimed to look at how formalised peer mentoring schemes can be used to support anti-bullying strategies within schools.
Benefits of peer mentoring in primary schools
“Peer mentoring helps prepare the little ones to understand that not every problem needs to go to an adult and that sometimes they can solve their own problems between them. We try to teach our children to own their problems … we can’t take problems away from them … but if they can recognise what their problems are, we will help them unpick them”.
Karen Leyland, Head Teacher, St Andrew's Primary School
“For me, peer mentoring is all about good citizenship … showing that life’s problems can be resolved with words and actions – not with fists”.
Read primary school case studies
Read an article in Junior Education Plus
Support and training available
We are funded by the Department for Education to support the development of peer mentoring for within a primary setting.
Support and training available include:
Support and training available include:
- National training programme - training courses across the UK available to help set up a programme or train your peer mentors
- Resources and publications - including training packs and guidance materials
- Peer mentoring outcomes measurement programme
- Support from our peer mentoring co-ordinators
- Approved Provider Standard - national benchmark for safe and effective practice
- ASDAN-MBF peer mentoring award - allows peer mentors and co-ordinators to gain recognition of their hard work
- Networking events - MBF provide the opportunity for projects to network and share ideas
