Our safe and active travel guide aims to help primary and secondary schools promote and support active travel and road safety. This promotes physical activity and improve health.
The list below shows the various events available to schools. It'll help you choose the ones that best suit your needs.
All of the events have a Modeshift STARS reference number, helping you choose what to deliver. As these will contribute towards the bronze, silver and gold levels.
Modeshift STARS for schools
Modeshift STARS is a national awards scheme. To recognise schools that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other active travel.
Schools in England (outside of London) can take part in Modeshift STARS for free. After applying to join the scheme schools will have a national standard school travel plan.
Activities for primary schools
Jessy's Journey
Target audience: Year 6
Aim: To raise awareness for journey planning importance and the different ways to travel to secondary school.
Overview: Jessy's Journey looks at the different forms of transport. That pupils can use for their journey to secondary school.
Location: Within a school classroom.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity. Email Kerry Birks at kerrybirks@barnsley.gov.uk for details.
STARS code: R13 and PT3
Crucial Crew
Target audience: Year 6
Aim: To provide children with knowledge, skills and strategies to make informed choices in everyday life. Helping them to stay safe and well.
Overview: The children take part in a variety of scenarios in different areas of the set. Specialist officers equip the children with the skills and knowledge. Helping them to make choices in everyday life in order to stay safe and away from criminal activity. Pupils take part in and learn through practical sessions. Covering a wide range of key messages and situations which may include:
- fire safety
- road safety
- antisocial behaviour
- shop lifting
- youth court
- first aid
- drug and alcohol awareness
- internet safety and cyber-bullying
- bus safety
- running away from home
Duration: Full school day
Location: Lifewise Centre, Kea Park Close, Hellaby, Rotherham, S66 8LB
Booking: There's no charge for this activity but booking is required. Email Lifewise Centre at info@lifewise999.co.uk to request to book.
STARS code: R6
Parents parking charter
Target audience: Parents/guardians
Aim: To raise awareness of the importance of not parking on zigzag lines outside school.
Overview: Parents are asked to sign a contract that says they will not park on the zigzag lines outside school. Parents will be issued with a car sticker to display in their vehicle. By signing the parking charter parents are agreeing to:
- not block vehicle access points, including driveways
- not park opposite or within 10 metres of a road junction
- keep clear of bus stops and bus bays
- park away from crossing points to give people better view
- park away from school crossing patrols to allow children to cross the road safely
Booking: Schools self deliver this activity. Email Kerry Birks at kerrybirks@barnsley.gov.uk for more details.
STARS code: AQ8
Zigzag bookmark initiative
Target audience: Parents/guardians
Aim: The zigzag bookmark initiative is for schools having problems with cars parking on the zigzag lines outside the building.
Overview: The initiative works as a three strike system. For every strike the parent/guardian receive a bookmark. The first is green, the second is amber and the third is red. One for every transgression.
For more details: Email Kerry Birks at kerrybirks@barnsley.gov.uk
STARS code: R19
Play it safe
Target audience: Year 2
Aim: To raise awareness of smoke alarms, fire safety in the home. Along with escape plans, fire drills, bonfire safety and road safety.
Overview: 'Play it safe' is an animation programme designed to help deliver safety messages to young children. In the film, Bleeper (a smoke alarm) and his best friend Battery help young children learn about fire safety. The film also includes a series of books and internet based learning books. These have been produced to help support the programme. The DVD is taken into all primary and infant schools in South Yorkshire. It's shown alongside a fun-packed session by community safety staff.
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
Location: Within a school classroom.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity but booking is required. Contact the Fire Service Community Safety Hotline on (0114) 2532314 to request to book.
STARS code: R11
Home safe
Target audience: Year 4
Aim: To raise awareness of hazards around the home. Build awareness of smoke alarms, the importance of having a bed time routine. Also how to make an escape plan with their families and how to make an emergency call.
Overview: This is an in school DVD which focuses on the above aims. As part of the package children are given a home safe pack to take home. This comprises of a DVD giving details about South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. General home safety advice and awareness of home safety checks. Also a quiz that the children can do with their families to reinforce their learning. There's also a booklet of the key advice. Along with a form that can be completed and returned to school to request a free home safety check. Children also receive a workbook that will be completed in class or as a homework project. Allowing teachers and ourselves to see that the children have understood the learning.
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
Location: Within a school classroom.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity but booking is required. Contact the Fire Service Community Safety Hotline on (0114) 2532314 to request to book.
STARS code: R11
GIST's child road safety training
Target audience: Years 3 to 6 (7 to 11 year olds)
Aim: This scheme is a community initiative developed by GIST to be delivered to children in schools. This activity will raise awareness of road safety around larger vehicles. As part of this activity all pupils taking part will receive a practical demo. Showing stopping distances and driver blind spots.
Overview: To raise awareness of child safety around larger vehicles. GIST operates a dedicated fleet of heavy goods vehicles managing warehouses and transport operations. The visit consists of an indoor chat as well as an outdoor event. Where children will get to see a truck close up and even sit in the driver’s seat.
Children taking part will be supplied with GIST high vis vests. Also a classroom activity pack and a selection of GIST items.
Activity duration: Two hours.
Location: One hour in a classroom. Also one hour demo within the school grounds. The grounds will need to be able to hold the size of the truck. This is 2.6m wide and 16.5m long.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity but booking is required. Email Suzy Smith at suzysmith@barnsley.gov.uk to request to book.
STARS code: R12
10 day active travel challenge
Target audience: Primary schools
Aim: To get as many pupils to actively travel to school for 10 days.
Overview: The 10 day active travel challenge is a simple and effective active travel initiative. Currently available to all South Yorkshire primary schools. The challenge is to travel to school in an active way for 10 follow on days. Each person who completes the challenge wins a small prize. Schools who take part, promote and encourage children to get involved, compete to win school prizes. Such as themed walk to school events, visits from a theatre company, scooter storage, etc. All prizes are active travel related. They continue to promote and encourage the choice of active travel for journeys to school. Schools are given special classroom charts and stickers for children. They record their progress over the 10 days as well as a resource pack and activity ideas. A event is held for children to design the badge used as the prize. The design changes each challenge, making people want to collect them.
Activity duration: 10 days in June and October.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity but booking is required. Email Suzy Smith at suzysmith@barnsley.gov.uk to request to book.
STARS code: W16
Bikeability training - cycle proficiency
Target audience: Primary/secondary schools.
Aim: primarily delivered in schools. It teaches children to cycle safely, learn how to deal with traffic and get children excited about cycling.
Overview: a cycle training programme that teaches children practical skills. It gives them the details and expertise they need to ride their bikes on the road.
Training in Barnsley is delivered by Active Barnsley who are based at Shaw Lane. Active Barnsley are a registered charity. They promotes and provides high quality options for everyone to lead healthy active lifestyles. They provide the training, cycle skills and skills training for cycling safely.
Activity duration:
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Primary schools: level one/two - five half-day sessions (level one on playground, level two on-road training)
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Secondary schools: level three - a two hour session (on-road training)
Location: Within the local area of the school.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity. For more details email Suzy Smith at suzysmith@barnsley.gov.uk.
STARS code: W16
We can also deliver other road safety sessions for primary schools. Email Kerry Birks at kerrybirks@barnsley.gov.uk for more details.
Activities for secondary schools
Ghost Street
Target audience: Year 8
Aim: To use a film to show a number of traffic collisions. To discuss how these could have been avoided, looking at risks, actions, consequences and responsibilities.
Objectives:
- Identify hazards as a pedestrian
- Discuss why wearing a helmet is important
- Think about car safety
- Develop English skills through the use of verbal communication
Activity duration: 60 minutes.
Location: Within the school's hall.
Booking: There's no charge for this activity, but booking is required. Email Kerry Birks at kerrybirks@barnsley.gov.uk to request to book.
STARS code: R9