Since this summer, 1,164 students from 14 primary schools and more than 1,000 students from nine secondary schools from the Boroughs of Hackney, Greenwich, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest in east London have taken part in workshops which use interactive theatre to teach children about safety around construction sites.

The ODA has worked with the schools to ensure that the programme compliments the National Curriculum Key Stages.

The ODA’s Head of Health and Safety Lawrence Waterman said: 'This is a hugely complex project and will become the largest construction site in Europe. We are determined that the construction activity needed to transform this area will be carried out safely and in consultation with the local community.

'As we approach the half term break, it is important that local children understand the potential dangers of playing near the construction site of the Olympic Park.'

Using storytelling, props and costumes, the actors gave a theatrical performance to groups of around thirty children at a time. The children were then invited to discuss what they have watched and participate in an interactive drama session.

This programme follows two session at the beginning of 2008 with the children from the Waterden Crescent Travellers’ community.

Notes to Editors:

Arc Theatre group have teamed up with the ODA to run the ‘stay safe, stay safe’ programme.

The workshops have been for Year 5 and Year 6 (9-11) classes in primary schools and Year 7 and Year 8 (11-13 years old) classes in secondary schools.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

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