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chapter one Introduction
1.1 Aims of the Study
In 2004, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Road Safety
Campaign (
SRSC) commissioned
ODS to undertake a study which aimed to
"investigate the travel patterns and road safety
requirements of children with Additional Support Needs, and
put forward recommendations on how their needs may be more
effectively met through the provision of road safety
education."
This study had a number of specific aims:
- To investigate the travel patterns of children with
Additional Support Needs
- To identify the road safety requirements of
children with Additional Support Needs
- To put forward recommendations on how these needs
may be more effectively met through the provision of
road safety education
1.2 Note on Terminology and Study
Scope
Following appointment, it was agreed that the scope of
the study would be narrowed to
"examine the ways in which road safety education can be
improved for children and young people who have difficulty
in understanding information; learning skills; and coping
independently". It was therefore agreed that the study
would focus on the road safety needs of those children and
young people with mild to moderate learning difficulties -
including where appropriate children and young people with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (
ADHD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (
ASD) who have mild to moderate learning
difficulties.
1.3 Study Methodology
In order to achieve the above objectives, a wide ranging
methodology was adopted which included:
- A review of context and relevant
literature - this review explored the
prevalence and type of mild to moderate learning
difficulties in children in Scotland, existing
literature on road safety and learning difficulties,
and identified existing resources.
- A postal survey of nursery, primary and
secondary schools - a total of 300 nursery,
primary and secondary schools were surveyed with the
aim of achieving responses from 60 schools. A mix of
mainstream and special education schools were surveyed.
A total of 74 responses were received - a response rate
of 25 per cent. Of these, 14 per cent were from nursery
schools, 41 per cent from primary schools and 45 per
cent from secondary schools. One quarter of responses
were from schools which dealt only with pupils with
Additional Support Needs, and the remainder had either
a separate Additional Support Needs unit, or
integration within mainstream classes. A copy of the
survey is included as Appendix One.
- Development of good practice case
studies - based on the survey of nurseries and
schools, six 'good practice' case studies were
developed. These case studies explored in more detail
the road safety education undertaken with children with
Additional Support Needs, and identified where schools
were adopting an innovative or particularly effective
approach. These case studies are highlighted throughout
this report.
- Consultation with parents and children
- discussion groups and individual meetings were held
with children with Additional Support Needs and their
parents. These participants were identified through
contact with local support groups throughout Scotland,
with a concentrated attempt to include parents and
children in different geographic areas, of a range of
ages, and with a variety of Additional Support Needs.
National organisations - and particularly Enable - also
assisted us in making contact with individual parents
and children. A list of the groups involved in this
study is included within Appendix Two.
- Consultation with other key
stakeholders - a wide range of organisations
and individuals were also consulted, including Road
Safety Officers and Child Pedestrian Skills
Co-ordinators. In addition, national and local
organisations working with children with learning
difficulties were consulted. A full list of consultees
is included as Appendix Two.
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