Massage Endorsements
Inverclyde
A Teacher’s Perspective
I am the Depute Headteacher of a Primary School in the East Central area of Inverclyde where there is a higher than average rate of mental health problems, male suicide, obesity , premature death and reduced life chances for the general population.
A significant part of my work over the last five years has been to try to change mindsets and reverse established patterns of behaviour.
The first step along the journey was to establish a running programme for all children from P1-7. All of our children can run 2k. The need for proper sustenance and fuel for the body made sense of the nutritional initiatives that came next, tackling issues such as boosting uptake of school meals, encouraging clean plates, driving down waste, a 5 Star Packed Lunch project, healthy snacks, teaching all P6 and 7 pupils to cook 3 course meals at our Junior Chef Academy etc. etc.
In tandem with these initiatives we were inspired to teach all of our children to meditate after listening to Doctor Harry Burns, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, deliver a talk about the destructive value of cortisol- the stress hormone- on the human brain. We began to develop the notion that it, if our children were going to grow up in an area where living conditions and employment prospects were going to be problematic, it was as crucial to develop coping mechanisms and ‘tools’ as it was to learn to read.
We started a Boys’ Choir, recognising the positive effects of singing on health .This encouraged many of our talented troubled boys to gain an outlet for their feelings and to share their sound with the local community in concerts throughout Inverclyde.
The Massage in Primary School programme seemed as if it would fit very well with our philosophy and I trained in May 2009.The two days of training were so enjoyable and I was very enthused that such benefits could be gained from such a seemingly simple routine.
Initially, I considered it to be a welcome addition to the work already in place but ,when I actually began to ‘bed ‘ the routine into the school from P1-7, the impact was quite dramatic. The children, regardless of age, loved the routine and worked hard to develop their skill. Relations between children were easy and relaxed even outwith the classroom – the reasoning being that if they had massaged someone sympathetically they certainly wouldn’t raise a hand to them in the playground.
The next logical step seemed to be for the children to invite someone from their family into the classroom for a massage. This proved to be a hugely positive experience and one which we repeated for every class in the school. There was a 100% take-up on the invitations – a far greater turnout than any Parents Evening. We presented it as a way for the children to give something back to their parents and, in an area like ours, it was a way for our older children and their parents to connect in a positive , loving way. It is wonderful to see parents giving their children a kiss or a hug as a thank you at the end of the massage. It was also a massive PR boost for the school as everyone left very kindly disposed to our efforts and motivated to support us in other ways. Now that the children all know the routine, they are able to use it at home in the wider family setting and it is truly making an impact on the lives of our whole school community.
I have massaged every member of staff in the nursery to let them feel the benefits and one of their staff is currently awaiting training.
From a personal standpoint, the routine has also helped me to heal or cement staff relationships, since each time I enter a class, I massage an adult. I have massaged every adult in the school and they are ‘queuing up’ to be my model. As a staff we are more tactile and, I think, more considerate of each other.
During our recent HMIe inspection, we were inspected on Maths, Literacy and Health and Wellbeing. We invited our Primary 2 parents in for a massage as part of the process and it was commented on very favourably.
Our massage practice has been filmed by Learning and Teaching Scotland and my Headteacher and I were asked to speak about our practices at the Scottish Learning Festival at the SECC in September. We were the winners of the Herald Society Awards in 2008, have gained a Scottish Education Award in June and have had reporters and photographers from The Glasgow Herald, The Daily Record and The Scottish Sun document our progress. Massage has always featured significantly in these articles.
Our school has now merged last week with a neighbouring school, a nursery and a Language and Communication Base. We intend to use the massage routine to bring the children together in a meaningful and therapeutic context and expect that it will have a positive impact on discipline and relationships in our new ‘big school’.
The Massage in Primary School Programme works particularly well if the expertise is within the ranks of the school staff as the routine can become properly embedded and giving maximum benefit.
Pat Nicol
Depute Headteacher
All Saints Primary School
Inverclyde