Road Safety Rules and Procedures 2020-02-25T11:17:50+00:00

Road Safety Rules and Procedures

Road safety within our school community is an important responsibility recognized and actioned by the school in the following school Road Safety Rules and Procedures. Together with parents we share responsibility for road safety education and adherence to rules and procedures.

Walking:

  • If walking without an adult parents are responsible for ensuring their child is responsible and safe to do so.
  • Children walking without an adult will enter and leave the school only by the main Penzance Road entrance.
  • Children will not cut through the staff car park in front of the Office but instead use the footpath in front of the cars.
  • Pedestrian safety training will be given at school as part of teh curriculum every few years. Parents will need to re-enforce this at home.

Cycling:

  • Only children in Years 5 and 6 can ride a bicycle to or from school unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Children who ride bicycles to and from school will wear a cycle helmet correctly fitted and fastened.
  • Children in Years 5 and 6 will receive bike safety training at school. However, it is the responsibility of parents to satisfy themselves if their own child is safe to travel to or from school by bicycle.
  • Bicycles are to be left in the cycle rack behind the office. It is recommended they are locked to the rack. Helmets can be kept in class in areas designated by the class teacher.
  • Cyclists will dismount their bicycle outside the entrance and walk their bicycle to the rack. On leaving they will walk their bicycle until outside the school entrance.
  • Cyclists will enter and leave the school only by the main Penzance Road entrance.
  • Cyclists will respect other road users and pedestrians at all times.
  • Parents are encouraged to have their children wear high visibility vests when cycling to or from school.

Scootering:

  • Only children in Years 3 to 6 will ride a scooter to or from school (unless accompanied by an adult.)
  • Children who ride scooters to and from school will wear a cycle helmet correctly fitted and fastened.
  • The school will run scooter safety training every few years, however, it is the responsibility of parents to satisfy themselves if their own child is safe to travel to or from school by scooter.
  • Scooters will be left in the rack behind the office. Helmets can be kept in class in areas designated by the class teacher.
  • Scooterists will dismount their scooter outside the entrance and walk it to the rack. On leaving they will walk their scooter until outside the school entrance.
  • Scooterists will respect pedestrians at all times.
  • Parents are encouraged to have their children wear high visibility vests when scootering to or from school.
  • Scooterists will enter and leave the school only by the main Penzance Road entrance.

Transportation by Motor Vehicle

School Bus:

  • Children travelling on school buses will be given regular instruction on: general bus rules, emergency procedures, and their safe conduct after they leave the school bus, particularly on the homeward journey.
  • Parents will be kept informed of the general rules on school bus safety so reinforcement can be given.
  • When buses are used for school trips (other than for transporting children from home to school and return), at least 2 adults, one being a teacher, will accompany each bus and ensure that all the children are accounted for.
  • Where buses are hired for school trips there will be adequate seating for the children and adults being carried.
  • On a triannual rotation bus safety training will be given at school for all children in Years 2 to 6 and for any other younger siblings at school likely to use the bus.
  • However, it is the responsibility of parents to satisfy themselves if their own child is safe to travel to or from school by bus.
  • Children will line up in the queue for their bus number. From there they will be escorted to their bus at the appropriate time by a designated member of staff.
  • Children using the bus will inform their class teachers so that class teachers can ensure they are packed up and the first to go at the bell. Children should be organised and leave their class without delay to walk to the bus line.
  • Children travelling with younger siblings will pick them up from their class and move swiftly to the bus lines at the front gate to line up.
    St John’s School children will sit at the front of the bus.

Private Car:

  • Parents and carers picking children up by car or van will follow the school’s Carparking Procedures.
  • The above mentioned procedures will be re-communicated to parents as a reminder every term.
  • Parents are reminded to abide by all laws pertaining to driving and owning a car.
  • Parents are reminded to keep up to date on changes to the law on child restraints. Safety belts and child restraints, as per the law, must be provided for every child and drivers will ensure these are correctly fastened.
  • If using the circular zone in the School Carpark children must be able to quickly get themselves into and fasten their own seatbelts and restraints. Parents and carers of children unable to do this quickly will park and walk to the pick up point to collect their children.
  • Children will be sent by the Duty Teacher to the safest place to wait and should not be summoned by the driver to do something else.
  • On entering and exiting the pick up zone drivers will wait in line and not overtake cars in front unless specifically asked to do so by the Duty Teacher. The Duty Teacher can see the whole situation and will act accordingly.

Road Safety Education

As part of the curriculum the following will occur:

  • Regular re-enforcement and promotion of safe travel to and from school via newsletter, website, assembly and competitions.
  • A rotation of safe travel training with our Police Education Officer including: pedestrian safety, cycle safety, scooter safety and bus safety.
  • A focus on cycle and scooter training during EOTC week.