Prepared By: Rick Laithwaite Updated: 05/11/09
Agreed by:
1) Metrofresh; and
2) Local Transport and Road Safety Group
Wigan Council: School Crossing Patrol Service Policy
1. School Crossing Patrols provide a front line service, ensuring the safety of children, parents and other road users at appropriate times during the school term. Wigan Council is not obliged by law to provide this service, but does so for the benefit of the community, to encourage and develop pedestrian road safety skills and promote road safety throughout the borough.
2. Wigan Council has adopted the ‘School Crossing Patrol Service Guidelines’, the latest version of which was published in 2009 by ‘Road Safety Great Britain’ (formerly the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association). These guidelines provide a basis for our current working practices and a formula for establishing and grading School Crossing Points, in accordance with nationally recognised risk factor criteria.
3. Some Crossing Points may not achieve the grade required to secure a School Crossing Patrol. However, those which achieve the standard are graded from A to D dependent on the degree of risk calculated by the formula. A and B crossings points are therefore higher risk, whilst C and D are lower risk. All School Crossings are re-assessed every 3 years and at other times when a change has taken place e.g. a school closure or the addition of a Pelican crossing etc.
4. All crossing points which have a grade will be staffed provided resources are available. If resources are not available to cover all crossing points then those with A and B status will always be covered first and this may mean leaving the lower risk crossings vacant. However, resources will be deployed in such a way as to give maximum School Crossing cover at all times.
5. The service is provided through the recruitment and selection of community minded people who are subject to Criminal Records Bureau and Occupational Health Checks. Each selected member of staff is trained by experienced Patrols until their Patrol Group Supervisor is satisfied that they are capable of working alone. After this initial period, each Patrol is visited regularly by the Supervisor who monitors their performance and provides refresher training, as necessary. Furthermore, the risks associated with the School Crossing Point itself are also assessed during these visits.
6. The Management of the School Crossing Patrol Service is provided by ‘MetroFresh’, which is part of the Chief Executives Department of Wigan Council. However, the grading of crossings and potential crossings is carried out by the ‘Local Transport and Road Safety Group’ of Environmental Services. Both Departments work closely together and aim to provide an excellent and well planned School Crossing Service for our clients.
7. Performance of the School Crossing Patrol Service is monitored by the National Performance Indicators RS6, RS8 and RS10 which refer to the percentage of cover given to higher grade crossings, percentage of total cover and percentage level of sickness absence experienced by the service. In addition there is a Service Level Agreement between MetroFresh and the Local Transport and Road Safety Group. This allows for regular ‘fit for purpose’ assessments of the service and identification of best practice utilising the depth of expertise present in both departments.
8. In order to carry out this policy in a positive and realistic manner we ask that our partners and clients provide us with information relevant to School Crossing cover in good time to be acted upon. Consequently we agree to provide schools with information relevant to School Crossing cover when necessary and advocate that such information be passed to children and parents.
9. Our School Crossing Patrols are dedicated, highly visible employees of Wigan Council who stand alone in all weathers to ensure the safety of road users. We expect Patrols to be able to operate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and courtesy. We operate a Zero Tolerance Policy in respect of any person who abuses, threatens or assaults a School Crossing Patrol. Such matters will always be reported to the Police for favour of prosecution.
The Officer of Wigan Council Responsible for the Service is:-
Rick Laithwaite
School Crossings Manager
Orrell Council Offices
Orrell Road
Orrell
Wigan
WN5 8LZ
Tel. 01942 705077
E-mail: r.laithwaite@wigan.gov.uk
Fax. 01942 705090
