These schoolchildren have been commended for their acts of goodwill with Kind School of the Year award

Pupils at East Boldon Infants School were delighted to receive the Kind School of the Year award recently for their acts of goodwill.

The accolade, awarded by Kindness UK recognises those children who have gone the extra mile to spread kindness both in and out of school.

Only two primary schools and seven secondary schools have been given the title to date.

Since 2018 the East Boldon pupils, aged four to seven-years-old, have been promoting acts of kindness at school, home and out in the community.

Pupils have developed blossoming friendships with residents from Sunderland care home, Bryony Park, writing to their ‘pen pals’ on a regular basis.

As well as the residents being invited to celebration assemblies, sing-along sessions and concerts, a group of children visit the care home each half-term to join in with activities.

Children are also encouraged to carry out random acts of kindness in their classes and have developed their own kindness manifesto, with team badges awarded to those seen showing kindness to their classmates.

Every Wednesday a number of students attend a Kindness Club, writing kind messages which are then hung on the kindness tree. They have delivered these messages out in the local area and have even received Tweets of thanks from those who have found them.

“We have developed a kindness culture across school where our pupils are aware of what kindness looks and feels like. They notice when others are showing kindness and know how to show kindness to others,” said a spokesperson for East Boldon Infants.

Staff say they have noticed pupils displaying ‘caring, selfless and compassionate’ behaviour towards others which has helped improve their social and emotional wellbeing.

They continued: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved the kindness award. It is testament to our values as a school and the hard work we have implemented over the last few years.

“Our links with Bryony Park Nursing Home in Sunderland has been fantastic, our children love to spend time with our care home friends and we know the value they experience too.”