MEDITATION is being taught to the three to 11 year-old pupils of a West Reading primary school.

Mike Sarson, colloquially known as Meditation Mike, applies the same mindfulness techniques he uses with drug addicts at his East West Detox rehabilitation centre with the children of Battle Primary Academy.

Today, Mr Sarson is leading a class of three and four year-olds in a half an hour session designed to relax the mind and make the children more aware of their selves and their surroundings. It begins, after a brief putty based Dough Disco warm up, with the lighting of lavender oil and a five minute quiet sit down that is only occasionally punctuated by a little yawn.

“All we need to do is to catch our breath, the breath of life which is the anchor to our hearts,” Mr Sarson told the class.

Well versed after more than half a year of meditation, the children echo 'hearts' and 'love' as the purpose of the session is explained to the class.

Having sat up and rubbed the inner clarity from their eyes, the group partook in a lying down breathing exercise before focussing on sinking their feet into the ground as they walked across the class room floor.

At the end of the session Halina and Leila are rewarded for their efforts with a meditation band made by children in a Thai orphanage.

“It's very much about distraction management,” said Mr Sarson in the corridor afterwards.

“The government are concerned about this and are trying to find ways of addressing the fact that children's attentions are so constantly bombarded.

“This is the only method that has been proven over the years.”

Kerri Smith, the class' teacher, is quick to extol what she sees as the virtues of meditation.

“I really do see a difference,” said Mrs Smith.

“After less than a year of doing it they are able to sit still for a whole lesson. For three and four-year-olds, that is incredible.”

Battle's Principal, Katy Peters, goes further, suggesting that the meditation has contributed to a fall in incidents of name calling.

She said: “One of the great benefits is the acceptance of each other it encourages and the ability to resolve issues.

“We have seen a huge reduction in prejudicial name calling; such as racism since we started the sessions.

“The meditation plays a part in our holistic philosophy that education is more than being able to read and write – it is also about understanding your emotions and understanding yourself.”