Meet the Junior Travel Ambassadors
Published: 10 November 2022
The exciting scheme is aimed at youngsters in Year 5 and 6 who meet regularly to share ideas and opinions about what they think needs to change to improve road safety for their school.
They also lead activities and assemblies across the school, throughout the academic year.
The role of a JTA is to encourage a greener approach to transport and try to support schemes to promote walking, biking or scooting to school wherever possible.
So far, 16 schools have signed up to the Isle of Wight Council programme, including Wootton Community Primary School where Ollie, Jess, Theo and Finn have delivered their first assembly and are planning their autumn-term activities to promote safe travel.
Headteacher, Jane Wilford, explained: "I am delighted to be part of the new JTA scheme as we are always striving for our children to travel to and from school as actively yet safely as they can be.
"Many Wootton children walk, cycle and scoot to school and we encourage this as much as we can, however our children are aware of how much busier the roads around school are becoming and are very conscientious that they need to remain safe.
"Our involvement with the scheme will give the four ambassadors a powerful 'voice' to lead by example through a range of activities linked to road safety, the first being a competition to 'bling' their school bag to be more visible to car users."
The children also love being involved.
Jess, in Year 5, said: "I'm a JTA because I want to help my school be more active."
Finn, in Year 6, added: "I want our school to be as fit as famous boxers!"
Lewis Campbell, the council's road safety officer, said JTAs across the Island were doing an amazing job of teaching their peers about road safety.
He said: "Road safety is an important life skill for children to learn and JTAs act as our champions of road safety and active travel within their primary schools, helping their peers to be safe and sustainable as they travel around the Island.
"We provide participating schools with resources, and the JTAs deliver. Their next activities are taking part in November’s Road Safety Week and the exciting Brighten Your Bag competition in December!
"JTA-related work contributes towards Modeshift STARS accreditation, the national accreditation scheme for School Travel Plans. We encourage all primary schools to get involved."
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said road safety was an important life skill for children to learn, all throughout their school years.
He said: "Providing good quality road safety education teaches children how to be safe and responsible when travelling to and from school, particularly as they grow older and begin to gain their own independence.
"Having these skills instilled in children at an early age helps them to stay safe for their lifetime.
"Promoting active travel throughout childhood also helps children to understand why active modes of travel are good for you rather than using the car, as well as the wider benefits of lowering your individual carbon footprint, encouraging them to be sustainable members of the community."
Schools wishing to find out more about the scheme, or how to get involved, can contact Lewis at: lewis.campbell@iow.gov.uk
They also lead activities and assemblies across the school, throughout the academic year.
The role of a JTA is to encourage a greener approach to transport and try to support schemes to promote walking, biking or scooting to school wherever possible.
So far, 16 schools have signed up to the Isle of Wight Council programme, including Wootton Community Primary School where Ollie, Jess, Theo and Finn have delivered their first assembly and are planning their autumn-term activities to promote safe travel.
Headteacher, Jane Wilford, explained: "I am delighted to be part of the new JTA scheme as we are always striving for our children to travel to and from school as actively yet safely as they can be.
"Many Wootton children walk, cycle and scoot to school and we encourage this as much as we can, however our children are aware of how much busier the roads around school are becoming and are very conscientious that they need to remain safe.
"Our involvement with the scheme will give the four ambassadors a powerful 'voice' to lead by example through a range of activities linked to road safety, the first being a competition to 'bling' their school bag to be more visible to car users."
The children also love being involved.
Jess, in Year 5, said: "I'm a JTA because I want to help my school be more active."
Finn, in Year 6, added: "I want our school to be as fit as famous boxers!"
Lewis Campbell, the council's road safety officer, said JTAs across the Island were doing an amazing job of teaching their peers about road safety.
He said: "Road safety is an important life skill for children to learn and JTAs act as our champions of road safety and active travel within their primary schools, helping their peers to be safe and sustainable as they travel around the Island.
"We provide participating schools with resources, and the JTAs deliver. Their next activities are taking part in November’s Road Safety Week and the exciting Brighten Your Bag competition in December!
"JTA-related work contributes towards Modeshift STARS accreditation, the national accreditation scheme for School Travel Plans. We encourage all primary schools to get involved."
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said road safety was an important life skill for children to learn, all throughout their school years.
He said: "Providing good quality road safety education teaches children how to be safe and responsible when travelling to and from school, particularly as they grow older and begin to gain their own independence.
"Having these skills instilled in children at an early age helps them to stay safe for their lifetime.
"Promoting active travel throughout childhood also helps children to understand why active modes of travel are good for you rather than using the car, as well as the wider benefits of lowering your individual carbon footprint, encouraging them to be sustainable members of the community."
Schools wishing to find out more about the scheme, or how to get involved, can contact Lewis at: lewis.campbell@iow.gov.uk