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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the
parents and children who were involved in this research,
and whose views and experiences are central to this study.
Particular thanks go to those local and national
organisations which assisted in arranging focus groups with
parents and children throughout Scotland.
The assistance of all schools who participated in the
postal survey is also appreciated, and we would
particularly like to acknowledge those schools, parents and
pupils who gave us their time in developing 'good practice
case studies'.
Finally, the ongoing assistance and advice from the
Advisory Group has been central to shaping this report, and
we would like to thank all individuals who participated in
this group.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2004, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Road Safety
Campaign (
SRSC) commissioned
ODS to 'investigate the travel patterns
and road safety education requirements of children with
Additional Support Needs, and put forward recommendations
on how their needs may be more effectively met'. The study
was to focus particularly on the needs of children with
mild to moderate learning difficulties, including autistic
spectrum disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder.
The study involved a postal survey of 300 nursery,
primary and secondary schools in Scotland; discussion with
children with Additional Support Needs and their parents;
and consultation with a range of local and national
representatives and support organisations for those with
Additional Support Needs.
KEY FINDINGS
- While it is difficult to quantify the number of
children in Scotland with Additional Support Needs,
education statistics suggest that learning difficulties
are the most prevalent reason for children requiring
additional support
- Travel patterns of children with learning
difficulties are often more restricted than those
without. Travel to school is predominantly by taxi, bus
or car, and evening and weekend travel is restricted
due to parental concerns of road related risks, and
lack of suitable social opportunities for many children
with Additional Support Needs
- Due to restricted travel patterns and methods, many
children may be missing out on the basics of road
safety education. This is particularly worrying as many
parents and other consultees believed that road safety
skills were crucial to increasing independence for
children with Additional Support Needs
- Children with Additional Support Needs may be at
higher risk of road accident due to a variety of
factors, including lack of awareness, inability to cope
with change, difficulties putting theory into practice
or specific difficulties with spatial awareness
- At school, children with Additional Support Needs
generally receive the same road safety messages as
others, although often with more support and practical
training
- Parents stressed the importance of
RSE for children with Additional
Support Needs, and desired better linkages with schools
and further information on the curriculum
- At home, parents focussed on practical roadside
education with little use of resources, and stressed
the need for appropriate resources for use with
children with Additional Support Needs
- Schools generally adapt mainstream resources to
suit individual learning needs, and stress the need for
assistance in adapting existing resources rather than
developing new materials
CONCLUSIONS
- All children are different and
RSE needs to be flexible and
individualised to meet different learning needs
- Children with Additional Support Needs are more
likely to display behaviours which make road use more
dangerous
- Road safety is a key life skill for children with
Additional Support Needs. Improved skills can promote
independence and create opportunities
- Road safety is a shared responsibility with the
need for parents and schools to work together
effectively
RECOMMENDATIONS
- A working group should be established to explore
the development of new resources for parents, and
flexible, adaptable resources for schools
- This group should also develop guidance on the main
learning and teaching methods appropriate for children
with Additional Support Needs, underpinned by the need
for individualised approaches
- Linkages between schools and parents of children
with Additional Support Needs should be considered a
priority by both teachers and road safety units
- A training programme should be developed by the
Scottish Road Safety Campaign aimed at familiarising
road safety staff to the particular issues involved in
supporting the delivery of road safety education to
children with Additional Support Needs
- Further research should focus on children with
specific conditions and support needs to enable
resources and methods to be developed further
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