More than 20 parents have been awarded a mentoring qualification to help support children at school.

The ten-week programme saw parents at Suffolks Primary School, in Brick Lane, Enfield, and Brimsdown Primary School, in Green Street, become mentors.

The parents were given a rousing reception at an assembly at Suffolks school as they collected their certificates on stage presented to them by assistant director of education at Enfield Borough Council, Jenny Tosh.

Steve Stewart, who took part in the programme, said: “It teaches you a lot about yourself as well as helping you to support and listen to children.

“This first level of qualification will allow us to come into schools to support them and help children to talk about their feelings and issues.”

Headteacher Andrea Cassius said this was the first time the school had organised anything like this and received a positive response.

She said: “This was a very popular course and is something we really wanted to get involved in. We have done a lot of community based projects and this is another one.

“Hopefully we will now be able to bring parents into the school on a voluntary basis to help children who might be struggling in a particular area.

“It is a very positive day for both our schools and some mentors will be going into other schools as well so there is a huge benefit for Enfield.”

Ms Tosh added: “It is very important to maintain a relationship between parents and schools and the parents at both these schools have shown great progress in learning about themselves and how to mentor children.”