Health and safety education goes to the top of the class

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is rolling out a health and safety programme to over 1,500 children from schools within the five Host Boroughs - Hackney, Greenwich, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Ahead of the summer holidays, the education program is focused on teaching children how to stay safe near construction sites but also compliments the school curriculum with an emphasis on personal responsibility and the consequences of actions and behaviours on others.

By mid-July, 14 primary schools will have taken part in the ODA’s workshops and 10 secondary schools will participate during the next school term.

The Chairman of the ODA, John Armitt, today joined pupils taking part in one of the workshops in Bygrove Primary School, Tower Hamlets.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: 'With the biggest regeneration project happening on their doorsteps, it is important we talk to local children about the 2012 project and make sure they understand the dangers of playing near what will become the largest construction site in Europe.

'Health and safety will always be our number one priority – not just for the thousands of workers building the new venues and infrastructure, but also for our neighbors who live and work around the Olympic Park.'

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: 'With the biggest regeneration project happening on their doorsteps, it is important we talk to local children about the 2012 project and make sure they understand the dangers of playing near what will become the largest construction site in Europe.

'Health and safety will always be our number one priority – not just for the thousands of workers building the new venues and infrastructure, but also for our neighbors who live and work around the Olympic Park.

'This project gives us a real opportunity to engage with children and excite them about the opportunities that come with hosting an Olympic Games. We hope these pupils will become the future residents of the new communities that are created in East London, and we are determined to create a real long term employment and skills legacy for local people and the UK construction industry.'

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

This programme has been follows two session at the beginning of the year 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 14 Primary schools participating are:

• South Rise Primary School - Greenwich
• Jubilee Primary School - Hackney
• Carpenters Primary School - Newham
• Lauriston Primary School - Hackney
• St Paul's Primary School - Tower Hamlets
• Halstow School - Greenwich
• Colegrave Primary School - Newham
• Bygrove Primary School – Tower Hamlets
• Gainsborough Primary School - Hackney
• Manorfield Primary School – Tower Hamlets
• Riverley Primary School – Waltham Forest
• Mayville Primary School – Waltham Forest
• Cann Hall Primary School – Waltham Forest
  

The ‘stay safe, stay safe’ programme has relevance to Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship at Key Stage 2 in Primary schools.

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

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