P1s settle into school thanks to their Mid Mouse
Woodburn Primary pupils are among thousands of children from across Midlothian who take their own ‘pocket pal’ to school thanks to an army of knitting and crochet enthusiasts from across the county.
Welcome infestation of woolly Mid Mice
Hundreds of people answered the call to create 1,380 woolly Mid Mice, one for each new P1 pupil start to help them settle into primary school.
Started during Covid
Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Ellen Scott said: “The early years team started this back in 2021 during the pandemic and it continues to grow.
Busy knitters
“The community response is phenomenal; people are busy knitting and crocheting for weeks before term starts to make the transition to primary school just that wee bit easier.”
Each mouse is different
“And the wonderful thing is, each mouse is unique, just like each child. It doesn’t just help pupils settle into P1, the children love and care for their Mid Mouse for years.”
Like family
P2 pupil Zack, 6, got his blue mouse, Mousey, when he joined P1. Ever since then, Mousey has gone everywhere with him. Zack says: “I can do anything with him. He’s my family.”
Overwhelming response
Principal Teacher, Emma Scafe and Sally Ward Quality Improvement Officer for Early Years said: “Every year we are overwhelmed by the response from residents, community groups, and offers of help from further afield. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved. It is always lovely to hear from children, families, and staff about the continuing impact that this project has. We would like to give special thanks to Newtongrange Primary and its Mindfulness Mice, which originally inspired this project.”
Great 'ice breakers'
Jen Faulds, the Depute Head Teacher at Woodburn, says the Mid Mice are great ‘ice breakers’ when children first come to school. She said: “Children can come to Woodburn from as many as 20 different nurseries so often don’t know many others. Having a mouse in common means the children naturally fall into playing together with their mice, it’s a great way to begin to build positive relationships through a common interest.”
Adventurous spirit
Lewis, 6, has a mouse with the surname, Banana, whom he loves to send off on adventures. The P2 pupil says: “Every time I build something, like a rocket, I put him inside.”
Pocket pal
Meanwhile Mason, 6, says his mouse, who is also called Mousey, helped when he joined the school in P1 and didn’t know any other pupils except his sister.
In the picture
Pictured clockwise from left to right are: Woodburn Primary P1 Elliot, Mason, Lewis and Zack, who are all P2, Early Years Principal Teacher Emma Scafe and P1s Jorgie and Arthur.