ACCORDING to the NSPCC, half a million children a year suffer from a form of abuse. On average, a child contacts Childline once every 25 seconds.

Teaching children that they have a right to feel safe is important.

Ludgershall-based Wellington Eagles Primary School and Wellington Lions Primary School have both signed up for the NSPCC’s school programme Speak Out Stay Safe.

This is where children aged between 5 and 11 will begin to learn about the issues that may impact them in life including neglect, abuse, and bullying.

The programme uses mascot Buddy to help children learn about the various types of abuse but in a child-friendly and age-appropriate way.

PSHE school lead coordinator Maxine Handley-Wells, who is running Speak out Stay safe at the schools says: “The NSPCC has found that school-based educational programmes not only increase children’s understanding of abuse, neglect, and bullying, but also increase the likelihood of their disclosing incidents of victimisation or abuse.

“Speak out Stay safe begins with an assembly presentation for all pupils aged 5 to 11, which introduces the different types of maltreatment and bullying, helps them to identify their trusted adults, and encourages them to seek help if or when they need it.”

Older children in the group will go on to participate in a one-hour classroom workshop exploring the definitions of abuse.

All pupils will participate in the programme, but parents can choose to opt their children out of the end of programme survey.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.