School children took their learning outside when they met their local firefighters and police officers to find out how to stay safe
Year 5 children at Ashley Junior School in New Milton found out about the importance of smoke alarms and what to do in an emergency, as well as tips on keeping safe while playing with friends.
The Coaching for a Safer Community programme works with children aged nine and 10 and covers a range of home and road safety topics in a fun and interactive way.
Firefighters talked to the children about the importance of having a smoke alarm on each floor of their home and how their grown-up should test alarms. Pedestrian road safety and being a good passenger in a car was also covered.
Warren Lotriet, a Watch Manager at St Mary’s Fire Station in Southampton, said:
“The initiative is a brilliant way of engaging with children, allowing them to step outside the classroom, speak to real firefighters and police officers and role play some of the decisions they may be faced with in time.
“We aim to create a day that stays in the children’s minds to help keep them safer.”
Police Community Support Officers talked about the different ways to contact the police and helped the pupils understand what counts as an emergency. The children were given scenarios to decide how best they’d respond and discussed what the consequences for them and their friends would be.
Charlotte Bartolomeo, Ashley Junior School’s headteacher, added:
“As a school community we are very grateful to the fire and police for visiting our school and working with us.
“We will do anything we can to increase the safety of our children.
“This event gives our children the opportunity to discuss ways they can stay safe at home, on the roads and at play with their friends and gives them the safe space to make choices without repercussions.
“I hope this is a memorable day for our children and they’ll share what they’ve learnt with their family, to help keep themselves and others safe.”
Solomon Peel, Police Community Support Officer, based in New Milton, said:
“It’s great to be back in schools and the initiative is such a positive way of engaging with young children, before they become more independent and find themselves having to make greater choices with bigger consequences.”
Aliou, aged 9 said:
“I enjoyed the class, I learnt I need to stop, drop and roll if my clothes ever catch fire and I got to practise the move with a firefighter.”
Abi, aged 9 said:
“I learnt the importance of being in a group when socialising outside of school to look after myself and look out for my friends. It’s also important that your mum or dad know where you are, so they know you’re safe and what time you’ll be home.”
