Children across the county have been taught about important road safety messaging through a unique medium; a magic show.
Commissioned by Durham County Council, Allan’s Road Safety Magic Show, a national company that provides road safety messaging across the country, was performed to pupils in ten different primary schools.
Lasting 40 minutes, the fun and engaging performances covered important road safety messages such as: Stop, Look, Listen and Think! Be Safe, Be Seen; Holding Hands; Safer Places to Cross; and how to use safer crossing places.
Two performances a day took place at the following schools:
- Seaham Trinity Primary School
- Ribbon Academy in Murton
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in South Moor
- Bloemfontein Primary School
- Easington Colliery Primary School
- Easington CE Primary School
- Wheatley Hill Primary School
- Kirk Merrington Primary School
- St Francis Horndale Primary School
- Woodham Burn Primary School
Cllr Tim McGuinness, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, said: “These magic shows are a great way for kids to learn vital, and sometimes lifesaving, messages around road safety and active travel. Presenting the messages in a fun and engaging way makes it easier for children to listen and take them on board.
“The performances from Allan also finished with a catchy road safety song for the pupils to sing along to, keeping spirits high while making sure the safety messages resonate with younger audiences.”
Following the performance, Allan met with the Road Safety Squads from each primary school. These are primary aged children who have been recruited to share road safety and active travel messages to their peers and school community by keeping a noticeboard, speaking in assemblies, and delivering campaigns and competitions.
Allan gave them helpful hints and tips on how to confidently present in assemblies and share with them the secrets behind some of the road safety magic tricks.
The magic show is used to bolster important road safety education already taking place in schools, such as Slow to 20 and other initiatives that are promoting active travel on the school journey, or delivering safer school gate parking campaigns.
Each term, the local authority’s Road Safety team provides the squads with themed activities to carry out in their schools, they are supported by a member of staff, along with their Road Safety Officer. The Road Safety Programme is set to be launched in primary schools this academic year.
For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/schoolroadsafetyschemes.
