Hampshire County Council Media release(12/05/2010)
Many children in Hampshire will be ‘streets ahead’ for National Walk to School Week (17 – 21 May), thanks to training provided by Hampshire County Council.
Over 360 schools and nearly 80,000 young people across Hampshire are set to take part in Walk to School Week and those that have benefitted from the County Council’s ‘Streets Ahead’ training will be well aware of the need to keep themselves safe on their walk to school and equipped with the skills to do so.
Designed specifically for six and seven year olds, Streets Ahead is a school based training scheme which teaches children essential road safety skills and the fundamental principles of the Green Cross Code. Part of the training involves taking children on to a designated route outside of the school where they practice how to cross the road safely and what to look and listen out for before they cross the road.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Mel Kendal, said: “National Walk to School Week is a great opportunity for those who would normally be driven to school to get a taste for walking instead. Our Streets Ahead scheme actively equips children with the knowledge to be able to get around on foot safely together with the understanding about why they need to take particular care when they are out walking and crossing the road.
“In 2008, 40% of all pedestrian casualties in Hampshire were between the ages of five and 19. We would like more schools to make it possible for children to undertake this practical training and help to reduce the number of accidents involving children thereby avoiding injury or death.”
Headteacher Mrs Claire Lowe, at Blackfield Primary and Fawley Infant Federated Schools believes that “all children and young people deserve a broad and balanced education that prepares them for life. Hampshire County Council’s Streets Ahead programme provides the basic skills that children need to help keep them safe and events such as Walk to School Week are a great way to showcase those skills.”
Miss Sarah Holland, Headteacher at North Farnborough Infants School added that “Walk to School Week is something that we have taken part in and endorsed for the last few years. By working with the Road Safety Team at Hampshire County Council, we have been able to provide the Streets Ahead programme to the Year 2 pupils at the school furthering their road safety awareness. We are very happy to be working in partnership with the Council for this year’s walk to school week and hope that it will be a great success.”
ENDS
MEDIA INVITATION
Reporters and photographers are invited to attend either of the following two schools between 8.30am and 9.15am - please notify Diana Leahy of your intention to attend - where, to mark the start of National Walk to School Week, a group of children will be undertaking part of their 'Streets Ahead' training.
Publicity opportunities to be held at either Blackfield Primary School, Hampton Lane, Blackfield,Southampton, SO45 1XA OR North Farnborough Infant School
Rectory Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 8AJ
Notes for editors
Schools seeking further information about the Streets Ahead programme can call the Road Safety Team at Hampshire County Council on 01962 846100 or visit the website www.hants.gov.uk/roadsafety
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre
For media enquiries please contact:
Diana Leahy, Media Communications Officer (Environment)
Tel: 01962 847666
Email: diana.leahy@hants.gov.uk
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