Education Minister Dolores Cristina recently visited Senglea primary school to inaugurate the nurture groups which have been set up at St Margaret College, Cottonera.

This pilot scheme of two groups, one in Senglea and one in Vittoriosa, is designed to aid children with behavioural problems. Instead of being supported by learning assistants within the classroom, the children are taught in a safe, nurturing environment where they can learn the social skills necessary to enable them to participate fully in school life.

Rotary Club La Valette Malta was asked by the head of college, Sandro Spiteri, to assist with the funding and organisation of the nurture groups. Margaret Marwick, the chair of the club's voluntary service committee, and an ex-head teacher and inspector of schools in the UK, is leading the project, assisted by other club members. The support provided consists of financial assistance to buy educational materials for the groups, and professional assistance with staff training and evaluation.

Dr Marwick said: "The room itself is much more informal than a classroom, designed to be more like home. Children are taken for some time each day to join the group, and they learn social skills, such as sharing and conflict resolution.

"We are funding the extras that make the teaching more effective, such as literacy kits, aids to play, puppets and other needs."

In the next scholastic year, the scheme will be extended to Cospicua primary school.

It is hoped that the lessons learned in Cottonera can be extended to other areas in the coming years.