Back to School - Travel Safety and Modern Stranger Awareness

As we welcome students back for the new academic year, their safety and wellbeing remain our absolute priorities. To help you support your child as they transition back to school routines, please see some key advice on travel safety and modern stranger awareness below.

Pedestrian and Route Safety

• Eliminate distractions: Please remind your child to keep mobile phones in their bags and headphones out while crossing roads. Distraction is a leading cause of pedestrian accidents.
• Enhance visibility: As the autumn terms progress and afternoons get darker, please ensure your child has reflective strips or bright accessories on their school bag or coat.
• The "Drop and Walk" approach: If you drive your child to school, consider parking a few streets away and walking the final leg. This significantly reduces dangerous congestion outside the school gates and builds healthy habits.

Moving Beyond "Stranger Danger"

Modern safeguarding shifts the focus from fearing all strangers to recognising safe individuals and identifying suspicious behaviours:

• Recognising "tricky" behaviour: Teach your child that safe, responsible adults do not ask children for help (e.g., looking for a lost pet, asking for directions, or asking to keep a secret). If an adult approaches them for help, they should walk away immediately.
• Identifying "Safe Strangers": Ensure your child knows who to look for if they ever feel unsafe or lost on their journey. Safe points of contact include police officers, shop assistants with staff lanyards, or a parent walking with other children.
• The "Yell, Run, Tell" rule: If someone follows them or makes them feel uncomfortable, they should shout loudly ("No!" or "I don’t know you!"), run toward a busy, well-lit public area, and tell a trusted adult immediately.

To report general safety concerns or travel-related incidents to the school, please email admin@kendrick.reading.sch.uk. However, if your child informs you of a specific incident that has already taken place on their way home and you have immediate safeguarding concerns, please contact the Police right away so it can be actioned immediately.