CHESHIRE EAST JUNIOR SAFETY OFFICER OF THE YEAR

The winner of Cheshire East Junior Safety Officer of the Year 2013 has been announced as 11-year-old Hana Williams of Dean Oaks Primary School in Wilmslow with David Brindley of Bridgemere C of E Primary School receiving Highly Commended. Both were awarded for their work in promoting personal, community, road and fire safety among children and staff at their schools.

The scheme encourages Junior Safety Officers to record what they have done throughout the year in their Work Books. These are then submitted and judged on the content, the innovation of the way that they have presented the information and if they have understood and delivered the messages correctly.

Hana and David used school assemblies, notice boards, competitions and other inventive methods to help improve the understanding of students and staff about the many ways to keep safe.

The awards came as a surprise to both Hana and David who were presented with their certificates by Councillor Bill Livesley at special school assemblies. The assemblies were also attended by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service representative Francis Edgerton and Jenny Ford from Cheshire Constabulary′s Communities Unit.

Hana was presented with her award on Monday 22 June and David was presented with his on Tuesday 23 June.
Hana said: “I learnt a lot about personal safety, including property marking. Some of the other children have told me that they have now been out and got their own property marking pens to mark their bikes and other things.” Hana said that she had wanted to take part in the scheme as it would be a good opportunity to improve her confidence and ability to speak in front of large groups such as school assemblies.

Teacher Julie White of Dean Oaks Primary school explained that the school had seen the benefits of the programme as Hana′s work had covered peripheral areas of keeping safe which might otherwise have been missed. The scheme was also noted in the school′s Ofsted report which states “The Junior Safety Officers are there