Road Safety 2020
The Department for infrastructure have made contact with all schools this week to address Road Safety, which is an area we would be focusing on in school at present. They outline that whilst there have been less traffic on our roads (especially early on in the lockdown), many more people have been out walking, running and cycling. Sadly, during this time, collisions on our roads have still been occurring with some resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. This is likely to continue as lockdown further relaxes and we enter the summer months when children and young people have more time to be out and about.
As a result of this throughout the month of June they have set a weekly task for parent/s to work alongside their child/children and focus on a road safety theme with the aim that both will learn and put into practise. This week, the theme is cycle helmets (which fits in well with our P7 cycling Proficiency focus) and the aim is that parents and children will check and adjust the cycle helmet to ensure it does its job in the event of a fall or collision. Too many children (and adults) are currently cycling either without a cycle helmet or with one that is not fit for purpose i.e. to protect the head. Simple adjustments could be the difference between a slight injury becoming much more serious!
Please read the document below and address Road safety with your children.
Week 2
Below you will find the information from DFI for week 2 road safety learning.
Dear Parent,
During the month of June, there will be a weekly task designed for you to work alongside and complete with your child/children in relation to a key road safety issue:
Road Safety Education - Week 2 Task (Pedestrian Safety 4-7 year olds)
This week the focus is on pedestrian safety and you can conduct this whilst out on your daily exercise or visit to the shops. There are also 2 follow up activities (see attached) supplied by Department for Infrastructure ‘Safe and Accessible Travel’ which can be printed out and completed by your child if you wish. However, these are not intended to take the place of the task itself but rather to reinforce the learning.
The task concentrates on safe pedestrian practice and we hope that it will help your child develop positive habits as they learn from doing and following your example. Please talk to your child/children about and practise the following safe pedestrian habits:
·Holding hands with an adult or holding on to a buggy (shopping trolley if in a supermarket carpark);
·Walking on the footpath (on the inside of the footpath with the adult closest to the roadside);
·The simple message of STOP, LOOK and LISTEN:
o STOP behind the kerb;
o LOOK and LISTEN for traffic before crossing the road;
o LOOK and LISTEN for traffic while you cross the road.
If practical, walk the normal route to/from school and decide upon the safest places to cross the road. Then, when school resumes, use this route each time you walk your child to/from school. Focus on:
·Use of any pedestrian crossings in place (including where the Crossing Patrol normally stands);
·Good sight lines in any direction that traffic may come from;
·Any potential dangers along the route (e.g. cars reversing out of driveways, road works);
A new booklet has been developed for parents of 0-7 year olds: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/parents-guide-road-safety-0-7-years
For further information on pedestrian safety: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/be-safe-pedestrian
To view the road safety calendars issued to schools: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
Enjoy going for walks with your child and remember - STOP, LOOK and LISTEN!
Road Safety Education - Week 2 Task (Pedestrian Safety 8-11 year olds)
This week the focus is on pedestrian safety and you can conduct this whilst out on your daily exercise or visit to the shops. There are also 2 follow up activities (see attached) supplied by Department for Infrastructure ‘Safe and Accessible Travel’ which can be printed out and completed by your child if you wish. However, these are not intended to take the place of the task itself but rather to reinforce the learning.
The task concentrates on safe pedestrian practice and we hope that it will help your child develop positive habits as they learn from doing and following your example. Please talk to your child/children about and practise the following safe pedestrian habits:
·The Green Cross Code – children are generally considered to be ready to judge speed and distance of traffic from the age of eight years. Knowing and being able to use the Green Cross Code is an essential life skill for all children:
o First find a safe place to cross;
o Stop with your toes behind the kerb (or grass verge on a country road);
o Look and listen in all directions for any traffic;
o If any traffic is coming, let it pass;
o When the road is clear, walk straight across the road;
o Keep looking and listening for traffic as you cross.
·Walking on the footpath (on the inside of the footpath with the adult closest to the roadside);
If practical, walk the normal route to/from school and decide upon the safest places to cross the road. Then, when school resumes, use this route each time you walk your child to/from school (or if your child walks without a parent then encourage them to use the same crossing points if at all possible). Focus on:
·Use of any pedestrian crossings in place (including where the Crossing Patrol normally stands);
·Good sight lines in any direction that traffic may come from;
·Any potential dangers along the route (e.g. cars reversing out of driveways, road works)
For further information on pedestrian safety: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/be-safe-pedestrian
To view the road safety calendars issued to schools: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
Enjoy going for walks with your child and remember to use the GREEN CROSS CODE!