Kidscape ZAP training: providing Year 6 children with the assertiveness skills to prevent them being bullied on transfer to high school

It would be helpful if all primary/junior schools who have been trained in the Kidscape ZAP assertiveness training could deliver the training to their Year 6 classes in July i.e. prior to their transfer to high school.

Research suggests that one of the biggest fears that children have prior to transfer is that they will be bullied. Teaching all children the assertiveness skills to protect themselves from being bullied will help to raise their confidence prior to transfer and may give them the skills they need should they be bullied (80% of bullied children who have attended the course have reported that they have not been bullied since learning the skills).

For those schools who have lost their materials, please email michele.blazey@norfolk.gov.uk for a Kidscape ZAP pack. It is recommended that you do the session during a morning or afternoon session in the last few weeks of school i.e. end of June/July 2013. Some vulnerable children may require more than the one-off class session and schools are urged to consider teaching those children in smaller groups where there are greater opportunities to practice and learn the skills needed.

For schools who do decide to take part in this project, please confirm by email to rita.adair@norfolk.gov.uk stating your school name, contact details of teacher/teaching assistant/Parent Support Adviser trained in Kidscape ZAP and number of Year 6s you will be delivering to. If your school needs further advice on undertaking ZAP training please get in touch directly with Rita Adair who will be happy to advise.

Questionnaires will be sent out for the young people to complete before and after the ZAP programme. It is hoped that children participating can be followed up 3 months later in their high school using the same questionnaire to see if they have retained the skills they learned.