The Lancashire Lions Programme - Primary
The Lancashire Lions Programme is an anti-prejudice programme which treats all prejudiced behaviour and language the same – We're not here to redirect or reduce one particular type of prejudice because they all hurt people and they all negatively affect our schools and communities.
The programme aims to create a Pride of Lions – a team of children (a class of up to 30 children) who have been taught and empowered to redirect and disrupt prejudice and hate speech within your school. These incidents rarely take place when staff are present, so having a team of children who feel skilled and empowered to intervene when it is safe to do so is invaluable to any school.
The programme is composed of four sessions (two full mornings) which cover the following topics and skills:
- Identity – We explore the future Lions' identity, celebrate the identity of others in the group, and look at how identity can unite or divide us.
- Discrimination, prejudice and hate speech – We teach the future Lions how to identify discrimination, prejudice and hate speech, what it feels like to be subjected to them, and why they are so hurtful.
- Supporting the harmed – Future Lions are facilitated in how to support those who have experienced discrimination, prejudice and hate speech.
- Making effective interventions without escalating situations –The future Lions are shown how to work with harmers to help them feel less isolated and reduce their likelihood of hurting others.
- Keeping ourselves and others safe – Sessions enable the future Lions to decide if they need to tell an adult if it is something that they feel they need an adult to help solve.
Statements from children a few months after the sessions:
"I was really proud of myself becoming a Lancashire Lion and was looking out for anyone fighting and helping people not to argue." "If I saw someone on their own I got them to join in with us in playing games" "Two girls were saying hurtful comments to each other – I spoke to them and tried to get them to stop but they wouldn’t so I asked a member of staff to help." "Two girls were fighting and hurting each other so I helped to stop it.""Two people were falling out of their friendship and I stepped in- asked them what happened and tried to help them to sort it out."
Teacher Comments:
"Relevant subject for ..... school."
"Great topics explored and needed."
"Thank you. Badges are great. Looking forward to talking to you about any impact in the New Year."
"The pupils enjoyed the group work and the drama."
Pupil comments:
"I liked when we were doing the drama"
"Everything was good"
“I liked the All About Me sheet and the ups and downs game we played”
"I learned how to deal with things in the right way"
“I liked the dressing up”
“I liked sorting out the positive and negative statements for Zorg”
"I learned to always be kind and do what's best"
"I learned what people might feel when they get bullied"
"I learned to be kind to others"
"I learned to not make fun of other people”
"I learned to not judge a book by its cover”
"I learned to be patient and kind”
"I learned to be friendly to everyone”
All of these new skills and approaches are useful for your Pride of Lions in reducing instances of bullying and prejudice that might occur across your school, but the conflict resolution, de-escalation and mindfulness skills that they will learn can be used in their wider lives and in their future careers once they leave your school.
The programme is available to Lancashire Primary schools at a cost of £950 which includes a staff meeting to provide staff an overview of the sessions and content as well as looking at how as a school you address issues of prejudice and discrimination. This can be tailored to meet the needs of your school or setting as required.
To enquire about the Primary Lions Programme please contact us - equalityanddiversity@lancashire.gov.uk
Click here to learn about The Lancashire Lions Programme - Secondary 