A BUDDY Bench under a jacaranda tree at Dalyellup Primary School is set to encourage inclusion.
The local school was the first in the state to be awarded a Buddy Bench under a Radiowest and Bunnings initiative.
They were one of 21 winning schools who will implement the idea in the coming months.
If a child sits on the buddy bench, they must say yes to the first person who invites them to play.
If another child sees someone sitting on it they must invite them to play and if two children are on the bench, they are encouraged to strike up a conversation.
Dalyellup Primary School principal Gary Quinn said he was excited to see the impact of the bench.
“We see lots of antisocial behaviour,” he said.
“We are trying to distinguish between what is bullying and what is antisocial behaviour and unfortunately being a child, there is a pecking order.
“We want to allow kids to make decisions about their own relations with each other in a protective capacity.
“We don’t see much targeted bullying but we do see kids who are sad, lonely, having a bad day, down in the dumps and this is where something like the buddy bench will be a fantastic little pick-me-up for them.”
RadioWest content director Steve Segale said it could be tough for the new kid on the block.
“It’s a way to help children feel part of the circle particularly if you’ve just started at a new school and don’t know anyone,” he said.
“It’s a tough time for a kid to be growing up.”
The buddy bench will sit under a four and a half meter jacaranda tree which will be planted in the school’s yard in the coming weeks.
