Keeping Leeds children safe as they travel to High School
At this time of year, children in Year 6 are getting ready to go to High School. It is an exciting time and many children this age are really looking forward to their increased independence and travelling to school with friends rather than caregivers. However, 11-15 year olds are the most likely to be injured in road accidents and many children have to travel further and without a parent/carer’s support.
That’s where the Road Safety Training team’s ‘Year 6 Transition to High School Training’ offer comes in! It is designed to prevent these accidents and injuries, as part of the overall Vision Zero – Zero people seriously injured or killed in road accidents. It is a fantastic offer to help protect our children and young people.
Child Friendly Leeds recently visited Horsforth Newlaithes Primary School to see a training day in action.
What does the day involve?
Information session
First, the children take part in an information session. They consider the different modes of transport available to them and what will change about their journeys as they move from Primary School to High School. The children were informed about the statistics around 11-15 years olds being the most likely to be injured and, as a group, came up with some reasons why…
On a phone
Listening to music
Distracted
Don’t cross roads safely
Uniform is dark, can’t be seen
Chatting to friends
“Distractions are things that pull you away from the main focus.” – Year 6 pupil
The children were given the space to consider some ‘what ifs..’ and ask their own. For example, ‘what if…I miss my bus’, ‘what if…I lose my bus money’, ‘what if I have to stay behind at school and when I leave, it’s dark’. It allowed children to discuss their options in a friendly environment to help them make safe decisions.
Route planning
Children then take part in an interactive workshop planning their individual routes to school. They can explore different methods of travel such as walking, cycling or public transport.
Children are given top tips about passes and discounts and the best websites to use to plan their journeys and find out information.
Get moving!
Most importantly, children are taken on a guided walk to High School with Road Safety trainers who have risk assessed the journey and give top tips and tricks throughout the journey. This acts as pedestrian training (pedestrian training is also available to Year 4 aged children, so this can act as a top up), as well as giving children the chance to get familiar with the route.
The ‘Influencing Travel Behaviour’ service offers a range of different road safety training sessions – schools can book in their sessions for the 2025-2026 Academic year now!
These training sessions support Child Friendly Leeds wish 6, by teaching children and young people about safe and sustainable travel.
