Broadlea Primary’s portraits of residents at Orchard House

As part of their personal development learning, the collaboration gave the students a purposeful reason to learn how to paint portraits.

The residents were only too happy to help, and had their head and shoulders photographed ready to send to the children.

The children enjoyed looking at other portrait artists, then learned to draw and painting facial features.

They spent many weeks studying the photos of the residents and then replicating them.

To make them extra special, the children wrote a little note to wish the residents Happy New Year.

Emily McCarty, year two teacher, said: “The children have had many discussions about how Covid has affected the elderly.

“The children were really excited to do something nice for the residents.”

The residents were pleased to receive their portraits and eager to share them with each other and with staff.

Residents Ann and John with their drawings, by children from year two. Pictures courtesy of Orchard House Care Home

Some put them up on their wall straight away, others spent a long while studying them intently, but all were so delighted.

Kim Fleming, general manager, said: “We are so grateful to the students of Broadlea Primary for their delightful portraits, I know that the residents were thrilled.

“We are thankful to the school for creating a way that our residents can interact with the community, which is something we are always looking for.”

Malcolm, a resident at Orchard House, said: “The portraits were simply marvellous, there was such attention to detail which is wonderful in children so young, there are lots of budding artists in that school.”