Y E A R 6
T H E   B U D D I E S

IOne development Year 6 really look forward every year is becoming a reading partner or ‘buddy’ to a child in Kindergarten. This happens after the entrance exams are over in January and the children then meet up once a week until the end of the year. Becoming a buddy is an exciting event, particularly for those children with no experience of younger brothers or sisters. Sometimes it can be challenging too, with three year olds and their interesting habits! It is one of the main highlights of the week, a time for games and fun, as well as reading and more serious pursuits. In the summer term there are opportunities for outdoor play, too. This year all of Year 6 and Kindergarten took part in a sponsored walk in aid of Barnardos, the older children helping the younger ones to walk the entire cross country route, which is about one and a half miles long. Buddies often attend assemblies together and the Kindergarten children were very excited to see their older friends acting, singing and dancing in their production after the Easter holidays. The buddy system has now spread to year 5 and Reception. It is a lovely way of forging important links between both extremes of the school and all the children has become very fond of each other.

Jan Bennett