We visit children in Years 2 and 5 to carry out interactive educational workshops during which they learn about preventing, detecting and escaping safely from fire in the home. Basic fire safety messages are introduced during Year 2 with the emphasis on learning through play. In Year 5, learning is reinforced and expanded through activities that look at home fire safety in more detail and on a wider scale.
Each workshop is approximately 60 minutes long and children will work in small groups to carry out various activities which involve a high level of audience participation. Depending on the size of each school and number of classes per year group, our schools officers carry out up to four workshops at one or more schools each day.
Every primary school in Greater London is contacted annually to offer them a visit. The service is free of charge and we aim to visit all schools that request a workshop. Priority is given to schools in areas of London where children are at greater risk from fire in the home.
Before the visit, schools are contacted to confirm arrangements and explain how the workshops run. Consideration is given to any special additional needs, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils, so that lesson plans can be adapted for each class. This means every child is able to fully participate in the workshop.
During school holidays, we carry out fire safety activity workshops at holiday schemes run by local authorities, community groups and charities. We also support fire station open days, community events and fun days.
Schools officer attendance at these type of events will depend on their availability. If you would like one of our schools officers to attend your event, you will need to book in advance and provide as much notice as possible. Priority will be given to attending events in areas where children are at greater risk from fire at home.
These workshops differ from school based educational workshops. Their focus is much more ‘play based’ with key safety messages around prevention, detection and escape delivered in a fun way through games, puzzles, quizzes, story telling and role play. There are a wide range of activities that cover ages three to 12 years old and can be adapted depending on children’s educational and/or physical needs.
For further information contact the London Fire Brigade Schools Team on 020 8555 1200 ext 30677.
