A NEW ‘Independent Travellers’ lesson has launched online to equip young people from age 11 to 13 to set out on journeys alone.

Using expertise from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Key Stage 3 lesson is aimed to help Year 7 and 8 students at a critical stage in their lives, when they may start travelling independently to secondary school.

After completing the free lesson on the TES website, students should be able to identify potential hazards and explain what they can do to help keep themselves safe as they travel alone.

Christine Sharma, Road Safety Manager at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The transition from primary to secondary school can be a challenge for young people and their families as they gain their independence and travel to school or to meet their friends alone.”

“It’s a vulnerable age but the new lesson empowers students to develop decision-making skills and own the concept of taking measures to prevent injury and harm to maintain their personal safety."

Schools across the UK can download the new lesson from TES.com – tes.com/teaching-resource/-12556837 – ready for their new cohort of students in September.

It lays a good precursor to the ‘Passenger Power’ lesson for Year 10 Key Stage 4 Students launched earlier this year to help young people give constructive feedback to drivers should they feel unsafe – available to view free here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks4-pshe-road-safety-passenger-power-12537715

For additional road safety information and resources visit: dwfire.org.uk/road-safety-education