MONEY certainly matters at Devonshire Road Primary School.

The school in Heaton is educating its youngsters to become cash savvy so they cash in on the right things �— and is working towards becoming a centre of financial education.

And in an innovative twist, it is the children who help take the lessons which are based on workbooks and power points designed by secondary school pupils.

Farah Atcha, year five teacher and financial education co-ordinator at the school, said: “ A t Devonshire Road we think it is really important to teach our children about money matters.

" We have recently become involved with the DebtAware Money Management Programme which I am particularly keen on as it very much involves the children.

" We have trained four 'Money Mentors' who will help the teacher in teaching the lessons, and over the course of the year, more children will have the opportunity to take on this very important role.

" Also the school has become involved with The PFEG—Personal and Financial Education Group—which helps to give children the confidence, skills and knowledge they need to manage their money, now and in the future.

"We are also very keen to involve parents in the lessons as we work towards achieving the PFEG Centre ."

Money Mentors delivered the first of six lessons in the primary school programme earlier this month. It used money dairies to teach about the difference between wants and needs and used a story entitled “Birthday Blues” to illustrate the impact of a family spending too much at Christmas.

Budgeting, saving and different methods for paying for goods and services will also be looked at at the school which is the first in Bolton to include the DebtAware Money Management programme in their curriculum.

Headteacher, Pam Barnes, said: "Having children teach the lessons reinforces what they have learned and children really engage with their peers.

"When the children are older they will have to deal with financial matters and this helps them learn about budgeting which is important given the issues we have in the world and with pay day loans.

"We want to become a hub where we share good practice with other schools."

Not only can children develop good habits starting with how they spend and save their pocket money, they also know they have a class budget to look after.

So if they lose a pencil or book they know that the money for its replacement may have to come out of the end of the year trip.

Caitlin Couperthwaite, aged nine, said: "We read books and one was about a girl called Lauren whose mum was in debt to teach us about money.

"When I used to get my pocket money I would just spend it but now I have saved £12. I don't know what I am going to buy yet."

Georgia Worgan, aged nine, added: "It is good taking lessons, they are really important.

"I knew what debt was but I didn't know the effect and impact of it until we started this. It is important children learn about money and finance."

Zaydan Akram, aged nine, said: "We have learned about saving money to buy things and not to get into debt."

Arbaz Ahmad, aged 10, added: "Some people waste their money and spend it all on sweets rather than saving and spending."

Brian Souter, DebtAware Education Manager, said: "There are now 70 Primary Schools receiving these lessons and all the resources are free as is the training, as Debt Advice Foundation a charity based in Darwen, sponsor and support the programme.

"The programme has received many positive comments from both teachers and pupils after it completed its pilot year last summer.

"The programme includes literacy and numeracy elements in the lessons but the main aspect is the developing of sound and sensible attitudes towards the handling of money.

"Attitudes are developed in people when they are young. In fact the inclusion of the topic of financial capability in school curriculums has never been more important. A report by the Money Advice Service informs us that 50 per cent of people do not make a budget, 48 per cent admit that they fall into debt as a result of their social lives and only 20 per cent can be considered to be financially resilient enough to withstand financial shocks."

For more information on the DebtAware Money Management Programme, ring Mr Souter on 01254 778 412 0r email brian.souter@debtadvicefoundation.org