PRIMARY school heads in Bournemouth and Poole are backing a campaign by the children's charity Childline to raise awareness about its existence among the under-11s.

Research claims that 21 per cent of all youngsters counselled last year by the South West branch of the charity were aged 11 or younger.

But while 90 per cent of secondary school children say they know about the charity and would contact it if they were in distress, fewer than half of younger children say the same.

This has led the charity to launch a two-month campaign to raise awareness among primary pupils.

John Regan, co-chairman of the Bournemouth Primary Heads Association and head teacher at Corpus Christi RC Primary, said he was shocked at the statistics and therefore felt that the campaign was a fantastic idea.

"Childline has very good recommendations because it handles things correctly from the points of view of the children and the people around them.

"Its counsellors do not fly off the handle and they do things professionally and sensitively.

"I'm all in favour of anything that draws children with problems out into the open.

"Bullying and physical abuse are secret and despite schools' efforts to encourage youngsters to talk about them, they sometimes feel that they cannot speak out.

"If the Childline campaign came to my school I would wholeheartedly support it."

Hillbourne Community First School head teacher Steve Jessop, also co-chairman of the Poole Primary Heads Association, agreed.

"There's a whole package of existing support for children, such as the development of pastoral workers in schools and the impact of the Every Child Matters scheme," he said.

"Also, Children's Services in Education now includes social services. So anything like this which joins up the thinking to make sure there are no loopholes for children to fall though must be welcomed," he added.

"We must make sure that there are no holes otherwise we could get a tragic case like Victoria Climbi."

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

Why do five to 11-year-olds call Childline?

Bullying 36%

Physical abuse 15%

Family tensions 10%

Facts of life 8%

Worried for friends 5%

First published: May 12