Gislingham Primary School’s pupils keeping an eye on community road safety

A primary school has welcomed its next set of road safety officers, tasked with spreading the word in and around the community.

Year 6 pupils George, Ruby, Alice and Jacob, along with the scheme’s mascot, Officer Snuggles, have been made junior road safety officers (JRSOs) at Gislingham Primary School.

This is the third year that teaching assistant Clare Hall has lead the scheme and feels the work that is done by it has been such a help to pupils and adults alike.

“I have been a volunteer for Suffolk Accident Rescue Service for many years and, for me, teaching road safety is so important,” she said.

“And with the JRSOs, we can get that message out in so many different ways, which can only be good for our community.”

The team has been busy since September, including conducting traffic observations outside the school, putting up posters around the village, taking assemblies and setting up school competitions around road safety issues, with the prize being to take Officer Snuggles home.

“With all of these things, the children and the wider school community have been really engaged with our projects,” said Mrs Hall.

“That is great to see and, as they are getting more and more involved, they are learning road safety life lessons for the rest of their lives.”

As well as this, the JRSOs also joined up with the village’s speed watch group last month.

The teaching assistant said: “The children had a chance to use the speed gun and were able to give the thumbs up to those that were keeping to the speed limit.

“I think if adults see children doing something positive like this, then it is a powerful message for drivers to maybe slow down and be safer on the road.

“I am so proud and blown away by the JRSOs; they have so many skills, are motivated and are really leading the way to make their community a safer place.”