Road safety policy

Life is full of challenges and we owe it to our children to equip them with the skills to recognise risks, assess them sensibly and react positively. There is no substitute for real experience in the wider world to gain experience and knowledge that can contribute significantly to their personal development.

We aim to teach the children how to behave safely and with awareness outside of preschool and to demonstrate good sensible road crossings, with the safety of the children and staff of preschool paramount.

The business does not have is own vehicles for transporting preschool children.

Staff should never transport children in their own vehicles.

Should preschool wish to take children out of setting and transport to another venue we will either:

• walk to the venue      

• meet children at the venue with their parents having got them there

Children will be taught how to safely cross the road by preschool staff and are expected to follow instruction when crossing and walking along roads and pavements. Staff and children should wear hi-vis vests when travelling off site. A risk assessment will be done by managers before any outing takes place, this will include the character and ability of the children taking part.             

Staff must all understand the rules of road walking, pavement walking, off road walking and road crossing as stated in the following procedures before embarking on a trip out with the children.

Procedure

Walking on roads with no pavements:

• We will walk on the right-hand side of the road unless on a sharp bend where moving over would be safer

• We will walk single file

• Adults will walk slightly wide of the children and nearer to the potential traffic

• A staff member will lead, one in the middle and one at the end of the line with any additional staff spread out where needed

• When they hear or see a vehicle a member of staff will call calmly out that something is approaching

• Everyone will stop, stay in line and move further in to the side of the road, without climbing up banks unnecessarily which may increase a danger of falling, and wait for the vehicle to pass

• Staff will thank motorists for slowing down

• Staff will look both ways to check for more traffic before getting everyone to move on

• Staff will communicate with each other throughout this process and to the children to ensure they understand what is going on

• Everything is done with calm and control

Walking on pavement

• We will walk single file unless there is enough room to walk two people safely side by side

• Adults will walk slightly wide of the children and nearer to the potential traffic

• A staff member will lead, one in the middle and one at the end of the line

Off road walking

• Where we can, we will always follow the natural path or signs for public pathways

• We will not venture onto private land unless permission has been granted in advance

• We do not need to walk single file unless room is restricted

• Staff should lead and have someone at the rear of the group

• Children are encouraged to discuss what they see, and staff will point our flora and fauna and things they can and can’t touch as they progress

Road crossing

• Children are asked to stop at the side of the road in a line

• Staff will explain that they are going to cross the road

• Children are reminded to look as well as listen for traffic

• A staff member will go to the middle of the road then the other staff will lead the group in single file over the road encouraging them to keep looking and listening as they go, the other staff member will be at the end of the line

• If a vehicle approaches while the children are crossing, the staff member in the middle of the road will hold up their hand to ask the vehicle to stop and the children can continue to cross

Feb 24