SCHOOLS across Swindon are preparing to mark Child Safety Week with a range of different activities to teach youngsters about staying safe on their feet and bikes.

Organised by the Child Accident Prevention Trust charity, Child Safety Week runs from June 1 to June 7 and aims to reduce the number of children and young people killed or seriously injured in preventable accidents.

The theme for the week will be on tea-time terrors and will aim to highlight the hazards children particularly face after school, when the number of road accidents peaks.

During the week, officers from Swindon Borough Council will visit primary schools and nurseries to deliver their safety tips.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council cabinet member for sustainability and transport, said: “I remember doing my cycle safety and proficiency course through my school 25 years ago, so it is great to see schools like Gorse Hill providing it too.

“Child Safety Week is an opportunity to remind people, including parents and motorists, of the dangers children face daily, particularly on their school journey.

“If drivers reduce their speed and children know how to walk and cycle safely then we can reduce accidents.”

Pupils at Gorse Hill Primary in Avening Street will be among the youngsters getting talks on cycle safety.

Headteacher Sue Kershaw said: “Keeping our children safe at all times is a top priority and this includes helping make sure their journey to and from school is as safe as possible. The pedestrian and cycle safety sessions are a great way to encourage youngsters to enjoy walking and going out on their bike, whilst also being vigilant to the dangers.”

Nationally, a quarter of cyclists injured or killed in accidents are children, with 10- to 15-year-olds at greatest risk.

Last year the council supported more than 1,000 Year 6 pupils, aged 10 to11, in learning how to cycle safely through the CYCLEsmart bikeability programme.

All primary schools across the town are also taking steps in a safer direction by taking part in the WALKsmart training, which teaches children how to cross roads safely and be aware of the dangers. Parents also need to play their part in looking out for hazards and raising awareness of road safety.

Motorists have an equally important role to play in keeping children safe in the town, which child car seats the safest way for children to travel by car.

The law requires all children to have the correct child car seat until they are either 135cm in height or 12 years old, whichever they reach first, and after this they must use an adult seat belt. The car seat must be suitable for the child’s weight and size and correctly fitted.

Free information, training and advice is available from the road safety team, for parents, carers and health professionals to help ensure this is the case.

Nationally the number of serious road accidents peaks among pupils in their early years of secondary education, then falls back after the age of 13.

The council’s road safety team also offers secondary schools education and practical guidance, which looks at some of presents young people with a range of everyday scenarios and the most common pitfalls, such as distractions from mobile phones and music players when walking or cycling and not wearing a cycle helmet or seat belt.

For more information about road safety and to find out more about the support available, visit www.swindon.gov.uk/roadsafety, or call 01793 466399.