Road safety working with schools

The council works with school communities to:

encourage active travel (walking, parking and striding, scooting and cycling) to and from school to reduce the number of car trips
improve the safety of the school journey to reduce the number of pedestrian and cyclist injuries
educate children and work with the community to introduce measures to reduce vehicle speeds around schools. On this page, you’ll find information about Portsmouth Smart Steps, school travel plan ideas, and road safety sessions for schools

Read more inside our Junior Road Safety Officer Handbook (PDF).

Portsmouth Smart Steps

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 it works

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 schools take part

If your school has not yet registered for the scheme, email roadsafety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to get started!

Resources for Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs)

School travel plan ideas

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:

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 and 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

Road safety sessions for schools

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

More information

For more information, contact our Road Safety team at roadsafety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Road Safety and Active Travel team
Portsmouth City Council
Civic Offices
Portsmouth
PO1 2NE

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Road safety