Peer Mentors

At D’Eyncourt, we have a group of Year 5 pupils who undertake Steps Peer Mentor training in order to support their peers at playtimes and lunchtime. Peer mentoring has been used for many years at D’Eyncourt and has been very successful. It has been proven that peer mentoring works with all children giving them the confidence to work alongside their peers effectively. Peer mentoring builds confidence, resilience and communication skills, emotional intelligence and many other desirable attributes

Through Wider Learning training, Steps is an intensive two-day peer support and peer mentor training programme equipping our pupils with the skills and expertise to effectively and safely support their peers and to develop roles and responsibilities in school that promote a safe and positive ethos and culture.

“Peer support encourages both those being helped and the helpers to develop personal and social skills, such as communication skills; improving self-esteem; learning to negotiate with one another and adults over areas of conflict; and learning to ask for help and support. It gives children and young people the opportunity to experience different roles and responsibilities, and to learn leadership skills and teamwork.”

The 12 children involved receive the training and then are responsible to lead play activities with their peers. They go onto the playgrounds at lunchtime to help other pupils with any problems or issues they might have. The Mentors act as friends, someone to turn to for advice and someone to play with if they are new to the school. If the child is happy, then school work and behaviour improves.

All of the children involved receive a review visit, ongoing support, all pupil packs, certificates, badges and lanyards to wear with pride.