Road safety working with schools

Our road safety team is giving all primary and junior schools in Portsmouth the chance to work towards a road safety award through the Portsmouth Smart Steps scheme.

Portsmouth Smart Steps is an awards scheme which rewards schools that get pupils, parents and staff travelling actively and safely to school. The scheme encourages schools across the city to join in a major effort to increase levels of sustainable and active travel, in order to improve the health and well-being of children and young people.

Schools can take part for free. When activities are completed, schools will receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.

How does it work?

Participating schools select eight pupils to be Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs) who, with support from road safety officers and teachers, complete activities like attending events, running competitions in school, leading assemblies and inviting speakers into school. Once a Portsmouth Smart Steps award is achieved, schools may go forward to compete with schools across the region for a coveted place at the Champion of Champions event.

How do schools take part?

If your school has not yet registered for the scheme, email us to get started!

Resources for Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs):

• Download the Junior Road Safety Officer Handbook
• Road safety resources for educators at brake.org
• Resources for pupils, teachers and parents from Think!
• Resources for teachers from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• Road safety week resources November 2022
• Road safety resources for 3-5 years olds with Super Bob

We will create school travel plans, which encourage and enable children to walk or cycle to and from school, and help schools develop travel plan objectives, for example:

Walking:

• set up a walking bus
• child pedestrian training
• walk to school month activities
• alternative entry points and routes
• mapping and marking of safer routes

Cycling:

• secure visible storage for bikes and helmets,
• cycle training,
• maintenance lessons,
• alternative entry/access points

Bus & train:

• concessionary fares
• provide improved information
• private minibuses
• consultation with bus company

Engineering measures:

• reducing the speed limit near the school
• improving pedestrian crossing points, especially at preferred routes to school
• building speed-reducing features (road humps, junction tables, speed cushions, chicanes, etc) to reinforce reduced speed limits
• cycle lanes
• improved street lighting on busy road and quiet paths

We offer a variety of road safety activities aimed at different school age groups:

Key stage 1

• Pompey Monster Walk to School Challenge
• Loan of ‘street feet’ and lesson plan – indoor play session to learn the Green Cross Code

Key stage 2

• Transition year walking and cycling training for 10 and 11-year-olds
• Bikeability Level 1 and 2 cycle training
• Modeshift STARS (includes a variety of road safety schemes)
• Pompey Monster Walk to School Challenge

Key stage 3

• Bikeability cycle training level 3 (and level 2 catch up sessions)
• Street Skills: cycle safety for Year 8 and 9 pupils

For more information, contact our road safety team:

• email roadsafety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk  or
• write to:

Road safety and active travel team

Portsmouth City Council
Civic Offices
Portsmouth
PO1 2NE