YOUNGSTERS at Prestonpans Infant School are taking part in East Lothian’s first sleep initiative with the launch of Blast Off To Bedtime.

The children started the new year with special assemblies which tackle the best ways to prepare for sleep, as well as teaching them how important it is to have a good night’s rest.

With their sleep mascot, named Buddy by the pupils, and their very own sleep song, the children are being encouraged to take responsibility for their own bedtime and plan it themselves.

Headteacher Sheila Laing said initial lessons were going well, with youngsters keen to learn about the right way to get ready for bed.

She said: “The message is that children, even at their young age, have to take responsibility for getting a good night’s sleep, deciding when they will go to bed and removing the things which can make it hard for them.

“In our assemblies we deal with the different things in the bedroom which can affect sleep, from X-Boxes to television.” The project, which is being introduced across the Prestonpans cluster schools this term, has already had an impact, with the parents of one child revealing that their child had slept in his own bed all night for the first time.

Sheila said: “The parents are really backing the project. The children are treating the sleep initiative like homework, going home and saying I have to tell you what I am going to do before I go to bed and what time I have to go to bed. It is going very well.” Next month, the school will hold a special session for parents to discuss the project and there are plans to have a PJ Day, when pupils will be allowed to wear pyjamas over their uniforms.

The school has two sleep champions, who underwent training to help run the initiative with the help of funding from Support from the Start, and they will oversee sleep clinics over the coming term, for children and parents with specific issues.

The offer of one-to-one clinics will be made to any families who have issues at bedtime with their children.

The sleep project will also have a stall at the launch of Support from the Start’s EH32 Parent Pathway leaflet tomorrow (Saturday) in Port Seton Centre, 1-3pm.