Yr1 traffic surveys? How, I mean how, do they do this safely?

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Just had letter saying among other things, that our little dears will be going to two of the BUSIEST roads in town, to count traffic

Considering they are unable to effectively supervise them in the playground, I am considering making sure ds is 'off' that day, as I am really worried about it.

Please tell me if your school has done something so bewilderingly stupid similar, and if so how they made sure all the kids were safe, not engulfed by huge clouds of exhaust and so on...I might be having an attack of the pFBs here but these roads are lethal.

Can't remember what year group this was done with when I taught but a HUGE part of it was about road safety.

There were extra pairs on hands there too including parents.

Schools have to do risk assessment for everything these days. Should be OK? I hope!

Thanks WowOoo, that's encouraging.

However one of the streets in question is one that I would hesitate to walk beside with jUST ds and his brother - it's got very narrow pavements and huge lorries thundering by all day.

Sometimes I wonder who thinks up these projects, I really do. It's bonkers.

The other road has got a dipped pavement with a wall, so is less of a risk but still, the pong from all those buses and cars...yuck.

It is in the National Curriculum to study the effects of traffic in the local area. It's an ongoing KS1 project.
There should be a min adult to child ratio of 1:6, but they will probably have more adults than that.
As WoWoo said, a lot of the topic is about road safety and making roads safer. They'll probably design some anti-speeding posters in class soon...

There should be extra adults on hand - TAs or parent helpers.

As far as I know this is a very common exercise in lower primary schools and as far as I am aware no one has been injured yet doing one.

IME the children tend to be very well behaved in situations like this.

The school will have done a risk assessment for the trip and youa re entitled to see that document I believe.

If you are concerened why not chat to the teacher rather than taking your child out of school - remember other work before and after will be absed on the survey. Or offer to help out.

Ok, thanks - I'll try and calm down. Had an incident where he was abandoned aftr school last week so am currently a bit about their childminding abilities iygwim.

I'd go along but have got ds2 so can't really take him too, he really would compromise the safety element!

Oh I do hope they don't stand right by the road.

They should have them stood right back against the wall/hedge or whatever is there, furthest away from the road side.

I would imagine they will be in small groups with an adult in charge.

I can imagine your worries considering the history. How about asking the teacher how s/he plans to run the activity.

Yes I will ask her, thanks Hula, you have eased my fears. I didn't realise it was a common event in primary.