Wrexham Council’s Road Safety Team are turning back the clock in a bid to help teach 3- 5 year olds the basics when it comes to staying safe near the road.
And to help them they have recruited TUFTY, the Road Safety squirrel – well known to those of us who have passed the forty years old mark!!
TUFTY and his friend WILL the Weasel are puppets which will be used to teach early years children road safety skills
This initiative is being introduced by George Walker, Child Pedestrian Training Co-Ordinator, who manages the successful KERBCRAFT project which is aimed at 5 – 7 year olds.
Kerbcraft currently has over 30 schools on board, with over 1,000 children participating this year.
George explained:
“We will provide training materials , including puppets Tufty and Will, together with lesson plans and evaluation forms. Initially, the idea will be used in schools currently taking part in Kerbcraft but we hope ro roll this out to all schools in the County.
“We have piloted the idea and both children and teachers have enjoyed the project – it is a fun way of learning and fits in very well with the foundation phase of the curriculum.”
Borras Infants School were happy to introduce their youngsters to Tufty and Will -and at the same time the children practised using the “Walkodile” – an ultra safe way of taking up to six children for a walk.
George added:
“We are interested to hear views on the “Walkodile”. Schools are being encouraged to engage the children in walks near their school and we think this would be a wonderful way of ensuring the children are kept safe and at the same time enjoying learning about their environment as well as introducing basic road safety skills.”
