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by Graham Tutthill

Children at a Dover primary school start their day in a calm and
relaxing way.

Massage is the first session on the timetable at one of the
classes at St Martin's Primary School.

Higher level teaching assistant Carol Johnson has been trained
under the Massage In Schools Programme and has now introduced the
techniques to children in one of the classes.

They have learnt a series of strokes which they give to each
other, while listening to quiet music and candles are lit on some
of the desks.

Prompt cards are used to remind the children of each stroke, but
Mrs Johnson said many of them have learnt the whole programme of 15
different strokes.

"Remembering these strokes is an opportunity to practice memory
skills and concentration," said Mrs Johnson, who hopes to expand
the sessions to the rest of the school.

"The children take it very seriously, but they are also having
fun and experiencing a new skill." She says the children also learn
respect for each other.

St Martin's is believed the to be the first school in the area
which includes massage in its timetable.

Among the benefits reported in schools which use the programme
are that it builds mental skills, enables children to distinguish
between appropriate and inappropriate touch, and in some schools it
has resulted in a significant reduction in bullying and
aggression.

Full story and more photos in this week's Dover Mercury.