Synopsis:

This film for BBC's One Life looks at a radical new initiative to tackle childhood bullying: peer mediation. Visiting Heatherbrook Primary School in Leicester, it looks at several children's experiences of bullying, from their own point of view.

Eight year old Jordan's big 'Dumbo' ears make him different to his mates, giving them an obvious nickname to taunt him with. Jordan is often alone in the playground, running around the periphery of games, being told he can't play, being pushed from one side of the playground to the other. "Everytime I'm being bullied, I look up at the sky and just say in my head, 'I wish I wish there were no bullies around, not ever'." Eight year old Stephanie has even thought about killing herself.

Two experts are coming into the school to select and train a team of "peer mediators". Once on the job these pint-sized peacekeepers will be on duty every break and lunchtime to try to defuse minor disputes before they escalate into something far worse. The film follows a group of children as they go through the process of selection, training and starting on the job.