The kidnapping of Jelena's Barbie doll by Ashton is today's issue for mediation at Heatherbrook Primary School in Leicester; it's led to name calling and a big fight. Jelena, 11, and Ashton, 10, sit in chairs, a reasonable distance apart. Joe, 10, welcomes them to the school mediation service. He explains it's a service run by children for children.
"We're not here to tell you what to do but to help you find a solution to your problems," he adds, before running through the ground rules, which cover issues such as confidentiality and honesty.
Each party, the term is used deliberately to avoid labelling either child as the victim or bully, explains their side of the story. "So what you are saying is he took your doll and started calling you names," says Joe after listening to them both.
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