Stevenage School Honored with National Award for Intergenerational “Grandfriends” Program

Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School, located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has received a national teaching award for its educational initiative. This program facilitates weekly interactions between its nursery students and “grandfriends,” who are retired residents at Astonia Lodge in the same town. The objective of this project is to enhance the social and linguistic abilities of the four and five-year-old participants. According to nursery nurse Vicky Wilson, observing the children “learn empathy for our ‘grandfriends'” has been “amazing to watch.” Ms. Wilson also noted that the initiative has contributed to the children’s academic progress and highlighted an increased necessity for such programs following the Covid-19 pandemic. She elaborated, stating that initially, “When we started, the children weren’t able to share, they couldn’t hold two-way conversations.” However, “Since they’ve started, the children can have conversations where they speak but also listen to what’s being said. They’re sharing equipment and toys and they’re having fun with activities.” Ms. Wilson expressed her hope for this “very, very special project” to be implemented more widely throughout Stevenage and across England. Shirley Robinson, a 77-year-old resident of Astonia Lodge, commented, “It’s interesting to see how they develop week to week and come out of their little shell – it’s really good for them and good for us.” Angela Gamby, aged 80 and also a resident, concurred that the children “respond really well.” She added, “There’s several really shy ones and they come of their shell a bit, they’re really enjoying it and then the ones that are a bit noisy calm down and join in more sensibly.” Five-year-old Nico stated he “100 times” liked the weekly visits. Lili, aged four, remarked, “Shirley teaches me things,” and Indie, also four, shared that “telling all my grandfriends things is fun.” Nursery nurse Kuldeep Lidder indicated that the program commenced in 2019. She explained, “The idea was inspired from watching the Channel 4 programme Old People’s Home for 4-year-olds.” Initially, “We were looking at the word-gap in our children – there was such a gap [in their vocabulary].” Subsequently, with the onset of the pandemic, “the children hadn’t socialised with their peers… there wasn’t that aspect of language and they didn’t know how to communicate.” The initiative received the Gold Winner distinction for the Impact Through Partnership Award at the Pearson National Teaching Awards 2024.