Pupils and police officers teach each other new skills

Partner London Cycling Campaign

Scheme The Blue Wheelers   

Location London      

When the Metropolitan Police signed up to teach cycling at a school for deaf children, they found that the pupils had a few things to teach them. Blue Wheelers’ project leader Police Sergeant Polly Rowell and her team at the Metropolitan Police Safer Parks team in Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill initially worked with the Frank Barnes School for deaf children toteach road safety awareness. They then developed the link further by learning to sign so that theycould communicate with the children directly. PS Rowell and her team recognised that once they could communicate, teaching the children to cycle was possible, presenting opportunities for social inclusion, transport and physical activity. Deaf children are often excluded from cycling because of communication problems and balance issues, but once the team could sign, they were halfway there. Rather than expect the children (or the school) to fit in with existing arrangements, the team worked with the school to develop a better community environment into which the Frank Barnes pupils could then fit.

The cycle training was held near Regent’s Park, as it is an ideal environment for children to learn to cycle. “We could actually help the children access something which those without hearing problems take for granted – riding a bike” said PS Rowell. By incorporating the local environment into the training sessions and using it to practice communication skills, the children become more and more confident riders. “The kids think it’s great, not least because they’re teaching us at the same time as we’re teaching them. And that’s what partnership working is all about!”When the Metropolitan Police signed up to teach cycling at a school for deaf children, they found that the pupils had a few things to teach them. Blue Wheelers’ project leader Police Sergeant Polly Rowell and her team at the Metropolitan Police Safer Parks team in Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill initially worked with the Frank Barnes School for deaf children to teach road safety awareness. They then developed the link further by learning to sign so that they could communicate with the children directly. PS Rowell and her team recognised that once they could communicate, teaching the children to cycle was possible, presenting opportunities for social inclusion, transport and physical activity. Deaf children are often excluded from cycling because of communication problems and balance issues, but once the team could sign, they were halfway there. Rather than expect the children (or the school) to fit in with existing arrangements, the team worked with the school to develop a better community environment into which the Frank Barnes pupils could then fit. The cycle training was held near Regent’s Park, as it is an ideal environment for children to learn to cycle. “We could actually help the children access something which those without hearing problems take for granted – riding a bike” said PS Rowell. By incorporating the local environment into the training sessions and using it to practice communication skills, the children become more and more confident riders. “The kids think it’s great, not least because they’re teaching us at the same time as we’re teaching them. And that’s what partnership working is all about!”