 Stepping
Out is the junior primary programme in the Road Safe Series
produced by the Police Youth Education Service in conjunction
with McDonald’s. Road Safe is a co-ordinated series
of programmes, providing young people with appropriate road safety
skills and practises at all levels of their schooling.
Who is Stepping Out for?
The programme is designed for children from New Entrants to
Year 3, that is aged 5-7. The material is divided into two teaching
guides, one for Years 0-1 and the other for Years 2-3.
What is the aim of the programme?
Stepping Out aims to encourage and assist children to
behave in safe ways as pedestrians and passengers in a traffic
environment.
Why is the programme needed?
In 1995 20 children in the 5-9 age group died in motor vehicle
crashes. Of these, 9 were pedestrians, 6 were passengers, 4 were
cyclists and 1 was 'other'.
Children in this age group need assistance to keep safe on
or near the road. They do not have the maturity or experience
to judge such things as the speed with which cars are coming.
As they begin school, there will be more occasions when they are
on the road, whether as pedestrians, or passengers in cars, school
buses or public transport. Stepping Out aims to help build
up their skills to keep themselves safe. Police and McDonald’s
recommend, however, that children of five or six do not cross
the road on their own and where possible walk to school with someone
older.
What are the objectives?
As they work through the programme, children will:
- identify types of traffic and parts of the road;
- be able to cross the road safely with an older person;
- identify road dangers and decide how to handle these;
- make their seatbelt ‘click’ and behave sensibly
in vehicles;
- identify people who can help them be safe on or near the road;
- follow instructions of the School Traffic Safety Teams.
What is covered in the programme?
Students are involved in a range in interactive activities,
covering the topics:
- giving name, address and telephone number;
- traffic;
- parts of the road;
- kerb drill;
- School Traffic Safety Teams;
- travelling by car;
- travelling by bus;
- traffic dangers;
- people who help.
Who teaches the programme?
Stepping Out is designed to be taught by a classroom
teacher working in partnership with a trained police education
officer. Each partner brings their own knowledge and expertise.
The police education officer is a respected member of the community,
with experience at teaching road safety. The teacher knows the
children and their families and will be able to reinforce learning
in an ongoing way.
Where can Stepping Out fit within the school curriculum?
Stepping Out fits within the Health and Physical Well-being
and the Social Studies Curriculum Areas. It has, however, been
written for use across curriculum areas, with activities in art,
language, music and maths.
How are parents and community involved?
Students will benefit when their road safety education is reinforced
at home and when their parents provide positive role models. A
letter is provided for parents and there are ample opportunities
throughout the programme for parents to participate. Teachers
are encouraged to involve community people in lessons.
It will be advantage if Ronald McDonald can visit the school
during the programme.
How does a school get the programme?
School should contact their local police education officer
through their nearest Police Station. The officer will make the
teaching materials available to schools free of charge.
Produced by the Police Youth Education Service
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