Youngsters at Grampound with Creed School, near Truro were treated to two sessions about farm safety, safety around animals and electricity by qualified teacher and independent health and safety expert Jason Cole earlier this week.
The pupils from Reception, Years 1, 2 and 3 were also introduced to the campaign mascot and life-sized cow ‘Maisie Mootual’ (pictured with Jason and the children) as part of the visit.
Truro-based insurer Cornish Mutual has been working with former PE teacher Jason Cole as part of its ‘FarmSafe for Schools’ project which was launched earlier this year.
‘FarmSafe for Schools’ is a free online teaching resource with lesson plans, posters and downloadable worksheets covering six key topics including farm, road and rail safety, how to behave around animals, electricity, hygiene and the Countryside Code.
Aimed at children aged between 5 and 11 and developed by educational experts, it is linked to Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE), Geography and Citizenship.
Jason has worked for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the Child Safety Education Coalition (CSEC), getting organisations to work together to promote best practice in health and safety.
Jason Cole, says: “It is important that all children are given the opportunity to learn about food and farming in our beautiful countryside. This project goes some way to provide them with the tools to stay safe when they are out and about. Not only might they go on to choose careers in the countryside or live in rural settings, but we hope they will spend more leisure time there as they grow up appreciating farming and the countryside for all it has to offer. Giving them a set of skills to stay safe is truly something of value for their entire life.”
Melanie Haddy, Headteacher at Grampound with Creed School, says: “As a school, we felt strongly that the content would be interesting and very useful for our pupils. The majority live in very rural settings and it is vital that they are made aware of the potential dangers around them. We hope they can then start to learn to assess risks for themselves and make sensible choices.
“From an enterprise point of view, it is also good for the children to meet and talk to people from the community around them, see the work they do and why they do it. This way they start to build an understanding of the huge range of roles being fulfilled in their community besides the obvious ones! We find that by inviting visitors from outside the classroom, it is more memorable for the children and has a greater impact.”
Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, adds: “When it comes to big issues such as health and safety on farms and in the countryside in Cornwall, it is really important to reach children at a young age. These really are formative years for youngsters and a time when they can benefit most from what they learn at school and in the classroom. We are delighted to be working with Jason on the ‘FarmSafe for Schools’ project and proud that Cornish Mutual is supporting such a worthwhile initiative in the county.”
For more information about Cornish Mutual’s ‘FarmSafe for Schools’ initiative and to download any of the free teaching resources, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafeforschools
Ends
Download full press release