A nursery and school in Park South has been recognised for teaching its children about healthy relationships.

Oaktree Nursery and Primary School received the HOPE Award for its work, which acknowledges schools that have completed the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service's (SDASS) HOPE Programme.

The programme aids schools in supporting families and preventing future victims of domestic abuse.

It includes age-appropriate lessons for pupils on healthy relationships, staff training, and a direct line of support through domestic abuse workers who also hold drop-in sessions at the school for families.

Oaktree Nursery and Primary School is the first school to complete the programme.

The award was presented by the patron of SDASS, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton.

Year 6 pupils Ziad and Amaka, who participated in the lessons led by SDASS’ school support workers Heidi and Cassie, said: "Heidi and Cassie taught us how to treat and respect people equally.

"After this valuable lesson, we remember drawing our immediate families. We also made a little poster that Cassie laminated so that we could put it somewhere special.

"We particularly enjoyed learning about each other and playing games with each other as a year, saying what we loved about ourselves and what we didn’t like."

Deputy headteacher Kate Howard added: "We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved as a school through the HOPE Programme and the very special work that SDASS do.

"Being kind is one of our Oaktree values and the lessons that our pupils took part in helped them to learn how to be good friends and to think about other people.

"For us, learning and understanding how to be a good person is just as important as maths and English skills."

The HOPE Programme and award is available to all schools in the Swindon area.

SDASS’ children and young people manager, Emma Maclennan, said: "Education is a key part of ensuring that the next generation can live a life free from domestic abuse.

"We are very grateful to Oaktree for welcoming SDASS into their school with such enthusiasm for the programme and we look forward to a continued partnership.

"By achieving the HOPE Award, staff at the school have increased their knowledge and awareness of domestic abuse and the impact that it can have on children.

"They have been committed to making their school a safe space where the whole school community can access support and advice via one of the SDASS school support workers.”