Our Children’s Parliament provides a valuable opportunity for pupils across the trust to come together, share their experiences, perspectives, hopes and dreams, and actively participate in building a more inclusive and supportive community.

 

Meetings and activities are facilitated by Trish Wilson (Transform Trust Lead Associate), David Walton, (Head of Bagthorpe Primary School and coordinator of Children’s Parliament) and Sherrelle Johnson (Transform Trust Programme Administrator), and are also supported by teachers from their individual schools.

 

Communicating and collaborating together

 

Building confidence in leadership and public speaking is just one of the important outcomes we intend for our Children’s Parliament representatives. We want every child who takes part to feel a sense of belonging, and also to feel empowered to express their ideas, advocate for their communities, and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

 

At our second meeting of this academic year, the children shared with the room their experiences of speaking at school assemblies. Our adult facilitators encouraged the children to continue to volunteer for public speaking opportunities at school, and also to communicate and collaborate with their school councillors. It was wonderful to hear the pride in our children’s voices and their keenness to represent their schools. They are showing up and developing their leadership skills by becoming better listeners, learning to amplify the voices of their peers, and understanding the importance of being kind, loyal and respectful.

 

What makes a good leader?

 

During the day, the children explored what makes a good leader by discussing those well-known to them in the media, such as Greta Thunberg and Keir Starmer, and closer to home, of course, our very own CEO, Rebecca Meredith. In groups, the children asked each other open questions to determine how someone might have the making of a good leader: What motivates them? How do they prepare for events and speeches? What positive impact do they wish to make?

 

Isla, Year Six at Breadsall Hill Top Primary School believes that “an effective leader is someone who is the glue, holding a team together – someone who is respectful of the opportunity they are given to make people feel heard, and creates a safe and trusting environment so that everyone can feel heard and can speak up”.

The importance of belonging

 

The focus for this year’s Parliament is ‘belonging’. Rebecca Williamson (Transform Trust Director of Engagement) delivered an age-appropriate, and thought-provoking talk about the Trust’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), aimed at helping young leaders understand the importance of these principles in creating an inclusive and supportive school environment.

 

Azuraye Williams (Transform Trust DEIB Lead) spoke to the children about the importance of DEIB and talked about the special work that they do every day to ensure Transform Trust is always improving its focus on DEIB.  She said: “It’s about respecting and celebrating our differences. You don’t have to agree with all the people you meet, but trying to understand our differences will really help create a sense of belonging and inclusion. We want to ensure everyone in our school communities – our children and adults – have equitable life experiences and opportunities.”

 

The children discussed what helps people feel valued for who they are, whether that is through being represented in the books they read, or being listened to and having their voices heard. Children’s Parliament will continue to explore how it feels to be a Transform Trust child throughout the year.

 

What’s next?

 

It was an enjoyable and memorable day for everyone, and a delight to see 56 intelligent, kind and enthusiastic children asking insightful questions and making valuable contributions to all discussions. We are all looking forward to seeing how this theme of belonging, and the ideas sparked by today’s conversations, develop throughout the academic year.

 

David Walton said: “The notion of belonging is a universal must, and we are keen that our Children’s Parliament members explore what ‘belonging’ really means to them and their school community. Through their own positive actions, our Parliamentarians will show their own school community how everyone can contribute towards building a culture of kindness and a place where everyone feels that they truly belong.”

 

**A special thanks goes to Ashbrook Primary. Coordinating 26 schools and 56 pupils is no small feat, but their support in hosting the adults who facilitated participation made it possible for every school in our trust to be represented. Their contribution was invaluable in bringing this event to life.**