Teaching road safety at Foundation level

Why should we teach road safety to young people?

Young children are especially vulnerable to traffic. They're much shorter, so the world seems a lot bigger, and so a car may seem further away than it really is. Their eyesight and hearing are still developing, so they don't see or hear traffic in the same way as adults. They can't focus quickly, and so may not be able to tell if a vehicle is moving or not. Their language skills are still developing, so they may not know the meaning of unusual words like kerb or pavement. Most of all they can't judge the speed or distance of traffic; it's not unusual for them to think that cars aren't as fast as buses or lorries. For young children, big means fast.

It is important for parents and carers to be aware of their responsibilities in teaching young children basic road safety, and we have free support materials available for them. However very young children continue to injure as pedestrians or vehicle occupants and we need to ensure that they themselves are aware of how their behaviour near traffic can help, for example by always holding hands. The resources we have available to nurseries and playgroups will enable children to learn through play and associated activities, fully meeting early learning goals.

What is available?

Listed below are examples of the resources available for you to keep, or borrow free of charge.

Role play equipment

Complete with activities, games and dressing up clothes to help children make sense of their world and learn important lessons about holding hands, crossing with a lollipop patrol or finding out about safer places to cross the road by using our model zebra and pelican crossings.

Song and story books

Our resource box for teachers includes the story books, Stop, Look, Listen, and Stepping Out, with road safety songs set to well known tunes.

Teddy Takes a Tumble

A story book available in A3 and A5 size that tells the tale of what happened to a Teddy when he didn't use a seat belt!

Letters in the Snow

A story book with accompanying tape, that contains three road safety related stories.

Road Safety Through Play

Children can actively learn about stop, look and listen when following activities listed in this teachers resource book.

Playing Safe and Safe and Sound

The songs in these books are fun and easy to use.

 

 

Traffic sounds tape

Ask children to identify the sounds of different vehicles.  Go on an observation walk, listen to traffic - can the children identify if it is quiet or loud, near or far away, fast or slow, and from which direction is it coming.

Road safety posters

We have a wide range of posters which can be both kept and loaned upon request.

Activity sheet book

Use the worksheets provided to photocopy for children covering a whole range of road safety themes.

Contact

To request a Road Safety teaching resource or information, please contact us on (01902) 551155. Alternatively e-mail us at road.safety@wolverhampton.gov.uk