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CHAPTER TEN: RECOMMENDATIONS
10.1 INTRODUCTION
Recommendations on the future promotion of the CTCS in areas of high social deprivation are closely related to the overall future of CTCS operation in Scotland. The timing of the current contractual commitments to March 2008 allows Road Safety Scotland the opportunity to consider alternative methods for providing road safety education to young children in Scotland in the future. This may include discontinuing the CTCS in its current format. The issue will require more detailed discussion and exploration by Road Safety Scotland and other key stakeholders. If it is decided that a new approach is to be taken, early action will need to be taken, so that any new arrangements that are agreed are in place in advance of March 2008.
However, in line with the original objectives of this research, it was agreed that the recommendations made within this report should include consideration of the best ways of ensuring that any road safety education initiative for young children in areas of high deprivation is effective.
10.2 FUTURE DIRECTION OF ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Given the potential for considering alternative methods of road safety education for young children beyond 2008, it is recommended that a full review of road safety education for children aged up to five years old in Scotland is undertaken. This review would explore how road safety education could be provided to this target group in an effective, innovative, educational, integrated and fun manner.
The review should include consideration of:
- The key messages which should be conveyed to young children
- The age at which road safety education should begin for young children
- How parents/carers like to work with their children to convey safety messages
- The format and style of resources which parents/carers would like
- How parents/carers can best be supported to convey these messages
- How linkages with other organisations and agencies can best be developed
- What resources and information should be available for organisations and agencies
- How the road safety initiative could best link with programmes for older children.
In consideration of these issues, it is critical that the review takes account of the diverse needs of different families across Scotland, including:
- Ensuring involvement of parents/carers and children in areas of high social deprivation
- The different learning needs and development stages of young children
- Appropriateness of the materials for children with Additional Support Needs and the needs of their parents/carers
- Needs of parents/carers with literacy difficulties
- Needs of parents/carers/children for whom English is not their first language.
This review should involve parents, carers and children across Scotland, as well as professionals in early years' education and road safety education. Organisations working with parents, carers and young children across Scotland should also be strongly involved in this review.
The core aim of the review should be to develop a framework for delivery of road safety education for young children in Scotland. Prior to undertaking the review, Road Safety Scotland should make a clear commitment to acting on the findings of the research.
10.3 ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IN AREAS OF HIGH SOCIAL DEPRIVATION
This study has identified a number of important lessons which apply to the management and promotion of any road safety education programme targeted at young children in areas of deprivation. Irrespective of the outcome of any review of road safety education provision for young children, there are a number of factors which should be taken into account when targeting areas of high social deprivation.
- Characteristics of areas of high social deprivation - there is a strong correlation between deprivation and lower levels of adult literacy; higher levels of ill health and support needs; and families for whom English is not their first language. These issues must be borne in mind when developing a programme of road safety education for young children.
Considering the use of interactive, modern and easy to use resources to convey road safety messages can be one way of ensuring that a road safety programme is appropriate for parents, carers and children with different needs and experiences. Overall, there is a need for flexibility in running any initiative to take account of the different needs of families. This is particularly important when considering the age at which children should learn about different road safety messages, the resources provided and the support available to parents and carers.
- Local networks of awareness raising - raising awareness at a local level of any road safety education initiative for young children is critical. Parents/carers and organisations working with young children identified that promotion of an initiative through local organisations - on a face to face basis - was clearly the most effective method of raising awareness. The development and maintenance of local linkages and networks should be built into any road safety programme targeting areas of high social deprivation.
- Using a range of methods to promote the initiative - this research has identified consensus that parents/carers feel that the more opportunities they have to hear about the road safety programme, the more likely they are to become involved. Ensuring that parents/carers and their children can find out about the road safety programme from a range of sources, and in a variety of different ways could help to increase involvement. In addition, the format in which information and promotion about the road safety programme is provided should be considered to ensure that parents with literacy difficulties or for whom English is not their first language are able to access information.
- Provision of support - as families all have different needs and experiences, providing resources which can easily be used by all is challenging. For some, the most effective way of encouraging participation in road safety education can be through provision of support.
This research highlights that the most effective way of providing this support would be through ensuring that linkages are developed with a wide range of local organisations able to support parents in educating their children about road safety. This could, for example, involve working jointly with organisations able to support parents and carers with literacy difficulties or those for whom English is not their first language.
- Developing the programme in partnership - all of the above factors mean that it is vital to ensure that any road safety programme for young children in areas of social deprivation is developed in partnership with a range of other stakeholders. Most importantly, this includes parents, carers and children themselves. However, the involvement of organisations and agencies who may be involved in promoting the programme and providing support to parents/carers is also critical. Early involvement in developing the road safety programme to suit local needs can be a valuable way of encouraging long term commitment to the initiative and building relationships with local organisations.
- Central point for co-ordinating the programme - with a focus on creating local networks, there is a clear need for any programme to have a key individual or team responsible for co-ordinating activity at a local level. This is critical to develop an ongoing focus on ensuring that any road safety education programme reaches parents, carers and children in areas of high social deprivation, with one person or team being clearly responsible for this objective.
10.4 BUILDING ON EXISTING FOUNDATIONS
The research has highlighted a number of positive factors within the Children's Traffic Club in Scotland which should be retained and developed in any future road safety activity for young people.
- Interaction - road safety materials for young children should encourage interaction between parents/carers and their children
- High activity levels - the CTCS has achieved substantial membership levels, with a high usage and recognition by members
- Partnership development - the CTCS has developed effective partnerships with Health Boards, child minders, health visitors and nurseries (although the strength of some of these partnerships has ebbed and flowed over the years).
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