Keith's Blog

Stealing the show

Over the last week or so I have been to a couple of events where children from two Primary Schools really stole the show.

The first was the launch of the Welsh Government’s Pupil Participation Wales website: www.pupilvoicewales.org.uk . The event was hosted by Kitchener Primary School in Cardiff. The Headteacher welcomed all those present to the school and there were short speeches from Huw Lewis, Deputy Minister for Children and me. Joe Ledley the Cardiff City and Wales footballer was also there. I was very pleased to be there and congratulated the Welsh Government for taking this forward. When the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published their concluding observations or recommendations for the UK they emphasised that more work was needed to increase pupils’ participation within schools and colleges so seeing some action on this via the introduction of this new web based resource is very pleasing.

I was asked to say a few words about how my new Children’s Commissioner website had helped me to hear from children and young people about issues that are important to them. Our website has had quite an impact and through the Backchat pages we have seen children and young people engaging with us on all sorts of issues. It is important for me that children and young people do directly inform my work programme and there is no doubt that the website has proved really useful in gaining children and young people’s views. There is nothing as powerful as a one to one conversation or a meeting with a group of children and young people but using technology does provide some children and young people with the opportunity to engage with us in a fun and interactive way. At the moment Backchat is providing an opportunity for children and young people let us know about how they use the internet and social networking sites so we can look at new ways of communicating with them.

Part of the proceedings included a short presentation from three members of the Kitchener Primary School Council. They were so good. They told us how important the work of the School Council is and how children are making a difference by working with the teachers and other adults at the school. They also referred to learning about citizenship and how involvement in the School Council is giving them new skills and opportunities. “Who knows” they said “one day we might become Assembly Members or MPs or even the Children’s Commissioner for Wales!” Everyone in the audience laughed at that one.

And then yesterday I attended the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference in North Wales. After my speech I took questions and continued the discussions during the morning in the coffee and lunch breaks. Those present, and there was quite a cross section of practitioners there, had lots to say. There were comments that did acknowledge that the Health Minister had made some finance and resources available but that these had not always filtered down to the front line and that there were challenges for the new LHBs particularly around making age appropriate services available. I also spoke to someone from the youth offending service who raised an issue about private care homes and what happens when young people in those homes commit offences. I also heard from GPs and others in the medical profession as well as from Cruse Gogledd Cymru about bereavement care for children and young people. I also heard two very stimulating presentations. The first was by Professor Simon Gowers from the University of Liverpool who spoke about eating disorders. He was followed by Joy Mitchell from Wrexham CBC who spoke about anti-bullying and emotional well being.

Once again though the show was stolen by children. Keystage 2 pupils from Rhosymedre County Primary School performed a buddying drama. It showed everyone how the buddying system they have in school works by playing out three different stories. The first was called “text troubles” and demonstrated how cyber bullying works. The second one, “wicked whispers” showed how children can become isolated and picked on and “missing money” demonstrated how extortion can leave children feeling vulnerable and hungry when someone takes away their dinner money and bus fare. In all three dramas the buddy system sprang into action. They acted it out brilliantly. You really got a sense of the pain the victims of bullying feel. You also though got a sense of the pride that all these children have in their school, in each other and in their buddy system.

I doubt that any of the adults present at both these events minded the children stealing the show. Just as well really because whenever children take centre stage they invariably inspire those around them.