Parents are up in arms at a primary school where youngsters have been giving each other massages before lessons. The ten-minute massage sessions were introduced at Sheffield's Hartley Brook Primary School to help calm down pupils after lunch breaks. School head Mrs Chris Hobson said the massage sessions have been a big success but some parents have withdrawn their children from the massage programme claiming it is 'inappropriate'.
Head of the pupil school, Chris Hobson, said the massage 'makes such a difference to the way the children calm down and get focused on their work'. The Massage In Schools programme is designed to help pupils relax and concentrate after energetic lunchtime playtimes. Parent Rachael Beer who has two children at the school said: 'I just feel it is inappropriate for children touching each other. I do understand that children need calming down after lunch.
If the head had consulted parents better, she would have a clear view of how parents feel about it. They are then sat doing the actions to peer massage. I feel that those 20 minutes could be better spent doing something more academic. The association has branches worldwide, including Canada, Australia, Japan, Portugal and Switzerland. They structured the programme for children aged four to 12 years old. According to Misp, the youngsters who follow the massage techniques have lower stress levels, concentrate better at school and also sleep better at home.
She added: 'I think provision should be made for those children who are not taking part to be given some sort of work. I don't think peer massage is on the national curriculum. Another mother added: 'They are never any calmer when parents come to collect them. I think I would have found it a bit strange if we were doing it when we were at school. One parent who supported the scheme said: 'Apparently it is doing really well in other schools so it is worth a try.
It might calm them down a bit. My daughter enjoys it and she even does it to me. Head of the pupil school, Mrs Hobson, said: 'It makes such a difference to the way the children calm down and get focused on their work.
