CHILDREN gave stress busting lessons the thumbs up as they prepared for controversial SATs exams.

The aroma of theraputic oils wafted from the nursery rooms at St Luke and St Philips primary in Blackburn yesterday.

In a unique session for the NSPCC's Children's Day, caring teachers decided it was time to put a stop to the stress building up before Standard Attainment Testing.

So two groups of students from Year 6 were treated to a relaxation and hand massage afternoon in the battle to fight their stress and worry.

The NSPCC Lancashire Schools Team came up with the idea as an extension to weekly drop-in sessions at the Hancock Street school.

And Marie Nolan, the session leader, who has taken a sixth-month aeromatherapy course, had all the 10 and 11-year-olds chilled to freezing point within minutes.

First was an explanation of some of the stress-busting techniques for the exams -- controlling breathing, channelling adrenalin and reading the questions.

The scene was set when lavendar, pepper and cytrus oils being passed round the group as classical music gently played in the background. And then it was time for the practical, starting with a hand massage.

Zoe Ward, 11, said: "It makes me worried to think about the exams so I like the massage. It puts you in a nice mood."

Rebecca Wolff, 10, said: "You have to try and remember these feeling of relaxation for the exams. It calms you down. I am still nervous about the exams"

Head teacher Gill Harding hopes to see more sessions available in the near future.

But the NUT teaching union says the move highlights the unnecessary stress young children are placed under by the needless tests.