Scooter Training

Winner of Sustrans' Competition for Best Practice in School Travel Planning (2009).

Scooters At school, young children receive Footsteps pedestrian training, a message worth reinforcing when children start scooting on their own. Drawing upon our experience as Footsteps tutors and Cycle Trainers (off-road and on-road), we set up a programme of Scooter Training.

Scooter Training Games The aim of this programme is to use the scooters as a fun and active way to revise and reinforce basic pedestrian safety messages. The key safety messages are equally relevant to younger children and to older children who walk or scoot independently to school, to the local shops or around where they live.

Our programme is progressive and adapted from Reception to Year 6:

Level 1 for Reception to Year 2: Scooter control and pavement etiquette
Level 2 for Years 3-4: Scooter control, pavement etiquette and priorities at driveways
Level 3 for Years 5-6: Scooter control, pavement etiquette and priorities at driveways, with more practice on the pavement with side roads and driveways

The class is divided into three groups, each group visits three Workshops:

Workshop 1: Discussion

Why ride a scooter
Getting ready: unfold your scooter; scooter maintenance; handlebar height
Where and when to scoot: places to scoot; what to wear; how to carry things; scoot in wet conditions; scoot in the dark
You’re off... speed, pavement etiquette, driveways
Practice the Green Cross Code

Workshop 2: Scooter Control Games

Scoot on a straight line
Stop and Emergency stop
Scoot around obstacles: slalom, funnel, turns
Look behind

Workshop 3

Pavement Etiquette: pedestrians have priority on pavements; discussion about manners; organise a course along a pavement; practice interacting with pedestrians
Priorities at driveways: who goes first? check all around, communicate

Scooter Training Pace In 2008 we delivered this training to all 12 classes in Haddenham. Feedback from the children, teachers and parents was very positive. Bucks County Council Travel Team have decided to buy our programme and are currently promoting it amongst all schools in Buckinghamshire. Furthermore, Sustrans selected this programme in their competition on best practice for School Travel Planning (2009).

Children can now scoot to school more safely. They know that pedestrians have priority on the pavement and that they must show consideration. They also know that the Green Cross Code applies for both crossing a road and crossing a driveway.

Several schools in Buckinghamshire have expressed an interest and we have organised sessions of scooter training with the help of two additional adult volunteers (staff or parents).

We continue to offer scooter training lessons for free to Year 1, 3 and 5 children in Haddenham, as a service to our community.

Haddenham Cycle Training message

Scooter Control When scooting, remember:

Pedestrians have priority on the pavement
Always be polite and considerate
Push your scooter or scoot at walking pace on crowded pavements
The Highway Code tells us that the speed limit on pavements is 4mph
Carry things in a rucksack, not balanced on the handlebars
When crossing a driveway or a road, remember to always look before you cross and remember that the person there first (car driver, cyclist, pedestrian etc) has priority

Interested in Scooter Training?

Our award winning programme is currently promoted by Buckinghamshire County Council Travel Team. You can view a powerpoint presentation of our programme (it will open in a new window)

Alternatively, you can download our programme

Lesson plan for Level 1
Lesson plan for Level 2
Lesson plan for Level 3
Certificate
Class Feedback Form