Children visit care home and read aloud to residents

CHILDREN at Kidmore End Primary School visited a nursing home.

The year 5 pupils went to Abbeycrest in Sonning Common where they read to the residents and showed them some items they had brought from home.

Jacob Viney, Ben Kirkland, Audrey Edimoh, Isabella Jones, Vashist Vipperla and India Bate were accompanied by headteacher Andrew Griffin and school dog Toby.

Audrey showed resident Margaret Hughes her brownie uniform and told her about all her different badges.

She said: “I think it’s very special to come here and do this. I like to speak to elderly people and it gives me a chance to experience what it may be like to look after them.

“I really enjoyed it and I was happy I could bring in my brownie uniform because lots of people here may have been a brownie once or a brownie leader and it can bring back some memories for them.”

Children from the school will visit the home every fortnight and next month the school choir will sing Christmas carols for the residents.

Mr Griffin said: “This was a nice opportunity as we want to support our local community and these residents. One of our ex-teachers who passed away was a resident here and we think it’s important to support those organisations which have supported our staff.

“It is a way for the children to see and work with the elderly. These pupils were selected because of their very good behaviour and their ability to be role models for the school. We could have chosen all of the children really.”

George King, customer relationship advisor at the home, said: “We used to do something similar pre-pandemic and as restrictions have eased, the opportunity came back for children and residents to interact.

“It’s fun for everybody as the kids get to come out of school to see a different environment they’re not used to and the residents can remember their youth.”