PUPILS at Holy Trinity Primary School had the chance to learn important life-saving skills this week as they were visited by experts from Barnsley Family Centres.

Children in Year 6 spent two hours on Tuesday learning about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the recovery position, recognising signs of a heart attack, and preventing choking and serious bleeding.

Michaela Woodcock, 51, is parent support advisor at Holy Trinity and co-ordinated the courses.

She said: “The children were all really excited about it, and the parents were all thrilled.

“It is just after SATs so it was a bit of down time, but still giving them the chance to learn.

“We want to give children basic first aid knowledge to prepare them appropriately for things they might come across as young people.

“It is something all our children should know, especially as they start to grow up and get to be out and about on their own more.”

The Heartstart initiative, set up by the British Heart Foundation and delivered by Family Centres in Athersley, Lundwood and Grimethorpe, offers two-hour classes in emergency life-saving.

Lisa Myatt, 44, is the outreach co-ordinator for Family Centres in the north and north-east.

She said: “It is just to give children those tools to be able to deal with issues.

“We have had good feedback from schools, the kids have all really enjoyed it.”

Since 2016, classes have been put on in schools in Royston, Shafton and Cudworth, and Lisa hopes the scheme can put on more classes in Barnsley schools in the future.