Adapting lessons for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Road safety education and training should be appropriate and effective for pupils of all ages and abilities, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
When adapting lessons, please be aware of pupils’ individual requirements and adapt lessons to fit their needs. Use visual aids and sensory play to help pupils learn and understand the connection between road danger and their own safety. Focus on road safety basics, such as holding hands with a grown up when walking near roads, how to cross roads at safe crossing places and always wearing a seat belt/sitting in a child seat when travelling by car.
Talk about safe vehicles in class
Explain to children that, while it's not a nice fact to hear, more than six children are killed or seriously injured on roads every day in the UK. These crashes have a devastating effect on families and their communities.
Talk about how safe vehicles are designed to prevent road crashes and protect people inside and outside the vehicle if a crash does happen. Use the factsheet for educators and factsheet for children to help children understand some of the ways safe vehicles can help prevent crashes and keep people safe, if a crash does happen. Use the poster template to help them design their own safe vehicle.
Here are some questions you could ask, and some suggestions for answers.
- Why do you think safe vehicles are important?
Vehicles are hard and heavy and can hurt us very badly if they hit us. Safe vehicles help protect against the mistakes that people make. They stop crashes and help prevent people getting hurt on roads. - How can safe vehicles prevent crashes?
For example: By helping drivers stay in the right lane and braking in an emergency. By noticing if a driver is tired and making a sound to alert them. - How can safe vehicles protect people?
For example: Child-seats, seat belts and airbags help stop people hitting the inside of a vehicle during a crash. If a crash happens they call emergency services so people can get help quickly. - How can adults help keep us safe on roads?
For example: by helping children learn how to check bicycles, keeping vehicles well-maintained, carrying out essential checks on their cars before every journey, and making sure children sit in well-fitted child seats. - What safety technology have you seen in vehicles? How do you think vehicles could be made safer in the future?
Note: You cannot always tell from looking at a vehicle what safety features it has.
Factsheets to support your discussion
Use the factsheets below to support your class discussions about safe vehicles.
Click here to download the factsheet for educators
Use this factsheet to support your discussion with children
Click here to download the factsheet for children
Use this factsheet to support children's learning
Design a safe vehicle
Ask children to design their own safe vehicle, using the facts they have learnt in this lesson. Encourage them to consider:
- How their vehicle would prevent road crashes.
- How their vehicle would protect people inside the vehicle.
- How their vehicle would protect people outside the vehicle (for example people who walk and wheel).
Download and print this poster template