JTAs - Junior Traffic Ambassadors

The Junior Traffic Ambassador scheme was started by Transport for London as part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for London to help to reduce the number of children hurt on our roads and increase children walking to school.

The school has JTA’s from Year 4 & 5, assisted by a Governor and a staff member who are their JTA Guides. The children applied for the job in the Autumn Term and had to go through an interview conducted by the existing JTAs and their guides. The successful applicants received an Information Pack and a uniform consisting of a high visibility Jacket, a cap and a Lanyard to wear around their necks. Their role is to spread the road safety message among the children and parents of the school and to improve the traffic situation around the school. To do this they use a variety of strategies.

What do our JTAs have to say...

• "I think being a JTA is really important because we help to keep everybody safe."
• "I think that the best part is that we make sure that everyone is safe and we remind them to walk to school by giving them stickers to show it's healthy to walk, during walk to school week."
• "The best part is making sure that people don't pollute around our school."
• "My favourite part of the JTA's is helping children and adults get to the school safely and the neighbours to be happy by others parking."
• "My favourite part is telling people where to park and making sure that people are parking safely."

Assemblies

The JTAs give talks in assemblies to the whole school and in the classrooms. These assemblies have been about teaching road safety, traffic awareness and parking issues. Competitions and other initiatives are introduced during these assemblies.

Speaking Up

As well as in assemblies, the JTAs will often talk to pupils and parents at other times, perhaps when they are asked questions or when they see an incident that they feel needs to be tackled immediately.

Posters

The JTAs have put up many posters around the school premises, some of these came in the Information Pack but they are now designing their own. These are to remind the pupils of road safety issues.

Competitions

Several competitions have been run over the year. These help to keep everyone involved and keep road safety at the forefront of people’s thinking. Prizes are awarded as an incentive to participate.