Following a successful bid for a Child Pedestrian Training Scheme, Brighton and Hove's Road Safety Education team successfully received a grant to fund a child pedestrian training pilot project in six schools. The project is part of a national child pedestrian training scheme and uses the successful Kerbcraft model, which has been tried and tested in Drumchapel in Glasgow.

The Government's road safety strategy Tomorrow's Roads-Safer for Everyone has a casualty reduction target for 2010, highlighted the need to increase child road safety training. Brighton and Hove was among 38 successful bids for the grant which pays for a Child Pedestrian Training Co-ordinator. The co-ordinator trains and supports volunteers who take 5 to 7 year old children out on the streets to teach them key road safety skills.

Brighton and Hove's co-ordinator, Andrea Hoyland is working in six schools-Bevendean Primary, Coldean Infant, Moulsecoomb Primary, St John the Baptist RC Primary, St Marks CE Primary, and Whitehawk Primary. All these schools, which are located in the Education Action Zone, met the set criteria which was set down in the bid. These included schools with higher child pedestrian accident numbers and schools situated in a social priority area.

The training, which started last summer term, consists of three stages each of which involve six half hour sessions. Children learn how to recognise safe places to cross the road and are taught how to deal with junctions and parked cars. Andrea is looking for people to come forward to help in this rewarding project. Full training is given. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer trainer please contact Andrea Hoyland on 292 335.

Whitehawk Primary School News

Whitehawk Primary School has new facilities available to hire after school and at weekends throughout the year including a music and drama suite, a newly equipped and sound-proofed gym, a flexible stage and lighting rig in the hall, disabled access and facilities and easy parking within a new security fence. For more information, please contact: Garry Pendergast, Head Teacher, on 681377.