Go-Learn inspires children to travel by train and be safe around the railway

Southern and Sussex Community Rail Partnership’s (SCRP) education programme, Go-Learn continues to engage youngsters and encourage them to be safe train travellers.

Over the last year the Go-Learn programme, focused on teaching school children about safe and independent travel, has been delivered to more than 6,500 children and received excellent reviews, from both teachers and youngsters.

Go-Learn builds up a child’s understanding of how to be safe when travelling by train. The programme includes:

Sessions provided by Southern’s Rail Neighbourhood Officers (RNOs), often as part of local authority-led safety events. During these events, the RNOs focus on important principles such as being aware of fast trains, as well as the dangers of trespassing and the third rail.

SCRP’s Education Officer, Angie Lowen, visits schools as part of the scheme and spends a lesson looking at journey planning and personal safety. She then works with local teams to welcome youngsters into a station environment, turning theory into practice.

Short train trips are often provided to develop the youngsters’ confidence further.

Southern’s Head of Safety and Environment, Colin Morris, said: “We set out last year with a very ambitious target of delivering these informative sessions to 2,000 children. I am really pleased that through the efforts of our RNOs and Angie we have exceeded this by over 200%, while the feedback proves how well these sessions have been received. Go-Learn is truly helping youngsters to think more about using trains as a sustainable form of transport, whilst ensuring they act in a way which keeps them and others safe.”

Angie Lowen added: “It has been very rewarding to see how much the children have got out of the Go-Learn programme and very satisfying that the teachers are so enthusiastic about it.”

Feedback from the classroom sessions has demonstrated an equal enjoyment of each part of the lesson and comments from the children included: “I never knew there were so many ways to stay safe around trains” and “I enjoyed the ‘planning your journey’ session because it was very grown up and makes me feel that I can be more independent”

Teachers’ feedback included: “It was very informative and well structured! Children were engaged and interested. The activities were very well structured and made the children think” and “The best aspect of the visit was raising the children’s level of awareness. Safety on the railway is so important – it was great that you talked through personal safety issues.”

Schools can find out more about Go-Learn and download our free schools pack at: http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/corporate-responsibility/go-learn/