Helping Year 6 pupils stay safe as they prepare for secondary school 

Posted on
A large group of schoolchildren in red uniforms stand in front of a marked police car in a school playground, holding up “Junior Life Skills” booklets. Several adults stand alongside them, including uniformed police officers and staff wearing lanyards. The setting is outdoors with a basketball hoop, paved play area, and large leafy trees in the background. The children are arranged in rows, some raising the booklets above their heads while others hold them at chest height, and additional children can be seen playing in the distance.

More than 1,000 Year 6 pupils from 31 schools across North Hertfordshire took part in a ‘Crucial Crew’ event last year, learning essential safety skills through interactive activities and real-life scenarios delivered by a range of local organisations and emergency services.

The programme is coordinated by Child Safety Media and supported by North Herts Council, helping children build important life skills and stay safe as they prepare for the transition to secondary school.

Following the Crucial Crew event, Child Safety Media produced the North Herts Junior Life Skills booklet to help reinforce key safety messages and provide something children can take home and refer back to. The booklet has been distributed to around 40 primary schools and was sponsored by Settle, with support from contractor Atraseal.

Earlier this month, Nicola Price, Community Investment Coordinator at Settle, and Amanda Surridge, Director of Neighbourhoods, visited Offley Endowed Primary School with partners from North Herts Council’s Community Safety Team and the police to present Year 6 pupils with their North Herts Junior Life Skills booklets. Nicola then delivered an interactive workshop with the local police team.

A classroom of primary school pupils in red and white uniforms sit at desks facing the front, where a group of visiting professionals stand and speak. The group includes two police officers in uniform and another person wearing a high-visibility vest, alongside several other adults with ID lanyards. Behind them is a whiteboard with handwritten notes and a large screen, with colourful classroom displays and student photos on the walls.
Year 6 pupils at Offley Endowed Primary School taking part in the workshop, joined by (left to right) PC Breen, Nicola Price (Community Investment Coordinator at Settle), Amanda Surridge (Director of Neighbourhoods, SettleParadigm), PCSO Phoebe Taylor, Chris Adshead (Senior Community Safety Officer at North Herts Council) and PC Wheeler.

During the session, the children received their booklets and explored topics including road and bike safety, recognising unsafe situations, understanding hazards in their environment and making safe choices as they become more independent.

They also worked in groups to discuss what they value about their local communities, including green spaces, clubs and activities, friendly neighbours and places where they feel safe.

A police officer sits at a red classroom table with a small group of primary school pupils in red and white uniforms, leading a discussion activity. The officer writes notes on a large sheet of paper in the centre of the table while the pupils watch and listen. The surrounding classroom includes shelves of books and stationery, storage folders, and windows letting in natural light.
PC Breen works with a small group of children to talk about safety in their local area.

Nicola Price, Community Investment Coordinator, said:

It’s been great to work with Child Safety Media and see the added value the booklet provides, and we’re really grateful to Atraseal for supporting this so that more children across North Hertfordshire can benefit. The workshop helped bring these conversations into the classroom in a practical and engaging way.

Children said they enjoyed the interactive workshop and really valued the chance to share their thoughts, ask questions and talk through real-life situations about staying safe in their communities. Many said it helped them feel more confident in how to deal with different situations and make safe choices.

A group of Year 6 pupils in red and white school uniforms sit at a classroom table reading and completing activity booklets. One pupil in the foreground looks down at an open workbook showing an illustration, while others follow along with their copies. The table is covered with books, pencil cases and a water bottle, and the classroom setting includes shelves, materials and bright displays in the background.

Jimmy explained:

I liked the books we got from Crucial Crew because there were lots of reminders on how to be safe. I think I will look at it a lot as I move into Year 7 to remind me how to keep safe.

Matilda added:

The book reminded me that everyone is growing up and facing new challenges, and it makes me feel that I am not alone.

More posts