StayWise, a free learning platform aimed at pupils aged 3 - 11, has launched in the UK.
The nation's emergency services have teamed up with a range of national safety charities to produce a new website packed full of their collective safety education resources.
StayWise (www.staywise.co.uk) brings together the educational resources of the emergency services linked to the national curriculum. That means pupils can learn about fire safety as part of a maths lesson or write a set of escape plan instructions in an English lesson.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) leads the partnership behind StayWise. Partners include the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, HM Coastguard, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the National Police Chiefs Council, the Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools and the Royal Life Saving Society.
The site offers free lesson plans, videos, and activities to help educators teach young people about potentially lifesaving advice within core curriculum subjects.
With many parents home-schooling due to the pandemic, there are plenty of useful resources available to mums and dads. Teachers can also set work from the site as part of a remote learning plan for parents and carers to follow.
Mark Hardingham, Chair of NFCC said:
"The Fire and Rescue Service is committed to keeping our communities safe. StayWise is a fantastic new resource for everyone to use. It offers teachers, parents and the emergency services consistent and effective educational materials to help young people learn about a range of safety topics.
"This is even more critical at this time when so many of us are isolated and need to make positive decisions in our day-to-day lives to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”
Chris Bigland, NFCC's Lead for Education, and StayWise Programme Director said:
"StayWise is committed to saving lives through education. By working together with our partners, we have produced a consistent learning resource that educators from across the community can use with confidence, whether they're teachers, home-schooling parents, or emergency service staff and volunteers.
"We have released the site early to support home learning for 3 to 11-year-olds, but we'll be expanding the resources available for older age groups in the coming months.”
The StayWise website is easy to use – just select an age group, subject, or theme, and you will find a collection of resources to keep students engaged. Find it now at www.staywise.co.uk
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Media enquiries:
Communications@nationalfirechiefs.org.uk
Representatives from NFCC and the StayWise project available for interview
www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk
Editor's notes
- Sam Johnson, National Water Safety Education Partner at the RNLI said;
"The RNLI is committed to improving safety on and beside the water. By working together with our partners, we are proud to have supported the development of StayWise, a platform to support educators with consistent and high-quality education resources across the country, whether in the classroom or working from home.”
"In September last year, the RNLI shared a powerful film of 17-year-old Alfie being rescued when he got into trouble while paddleboarding because he carried a way to call for help. This inspirational young person knew what to do when they found themselves in trouble, and the actions he took helped them to survive until they could be rescued, helping to save their life. Through StayWise, we know that we can reach more people with essential lifesaving skills such as these.”
- Steve Irving, Executive Officer at the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said
"Learning at a young age about staying safe and what to do in an emergency saves lives. Learning these skills through fun and educational activities is essential and StayWise provides fabulous resources to support this.
AACE has been delighted that Ambulance Services have worked with our Fire Service colleagues, along with the other emergency and rescue services, to support this valuable initiative. We look forward to seeing it continue to expand and become a trusted resource for all”.