Garelochhead Primary new 'walking bus' and breakfast club

Garelochhead Primary is trying to improve the starts to pupils' mornings before they get to class.

The central idea is to encourage about 30 pupils from the school's roll of 106 to meet staff at three locations in the village and walk together to school for an 8.30am arrival.

They then get a breakfast together and chance to see their friends before the day's classes begin.

The initiative is designed to improve attendance but also to fuel the brain - and ultimately help improve the youngsters' learning in literacy, maths and other subjects.

Funded by the Scottish Attainment Challenge, which targets closing the poverty-related attainment gap, the walking bus will run until Easter to measure its impact and sustainability.

Maria McArthur (Image: Newsquest)

Head teacher Maria McArthur said the school had contacted parents and asked if they would be interested in the idea. The response was positive, and a quarter of the school signed up.

She said: "We shared about walking buses, and how it's been used and the importance.

"The impact on late arrivals has been huge - it's really brought that down.

"We are noticing children are arriving in class, calm, very happy to be here. It's having that positive impact.

"When they get to school they are already relaxed."

The school previously introduced a 'soft start' to the school day, without the rigid morning start time, lining up outside in all weathers and then going straight into class.

The 'soft start' includes a spell of play in the morning, and so the walking bus and breakfast club "feels like a natural next step for what we are trying to achieve".

Dr Natalie Watters, attainment advisor with Education Scotland, said pupils can see a member of staff waiting for them in the morning at designated spots to walk into school together. And so far lateness has almost been entirely wiped out.

"The issues in Garelochhead might be different from Rosneath or Helensburgh," Dr Watters said.

"Part of my job is to work with head teacher to see what's best for them."

Lindsay Craven, class assistant in P3/2 at the school, said you could definitely see the difference in class from the work so far.

"I hope it carries on," she said.

And Stephanie Horne, assistant in P5/4, added: "The pupils are more focused and happier.

"If they come in here, they have half an hour before they go into class. There's not the rush. It's a bit more chilled for them.

"They're really enjoying it."

One pupil told the Advertiser he liked arriving and having breakfast with his friends and it was a good start to the day.

Another said: "It's good that they provide us with breakfast in the morning, especially if parents have to go to work early.

"And they keep us safe when we're going down to the school and crossing roads.

"You can chat with your friends over breakfast - you don't just need to sit there and have your breakfast at home."