School appeals for help to hire lollipop warden

HEADTEACHER CLAIMS PUPILS FACE DANGER

AN East Yorkshire school where the head claims children have been placed in “a dangerous situation” is trying to raise £2,000 for a lollipop warden.

Holme-on-spalding-moor Primary, near Market Weighton, has been left without a warden by East Riding Council.

Headteacher Steve Woodhouse has been angered by the council’s decision not to replace the school’s crossing warden, who left in December.

The council made the controversial decision following a risk assessment, but has agreed to carry out a further traffic survey in the summer, following a public outcry.

In the meantime, the head fears children are at daily risk crossing the busy A163 to get to and from school and insists a lollipop warden is needed.

Mr Woodhouse said: “It’s one of the busiest roads in the East Riding. The kids are feeling a bit worried about when to cross and make some poor judgements.

“On numerous occasions the warden used the lollipop as a barrier to stop little ones running out into the road.

“Had he not been there it would have been a disaster.

“We are in that position, now, where he is not there and it’s an accident waiting to happen.”

The school has now approached the parish council and a local charity for £2,000 to pay for a crossing patrol while it awaits the council’s review.

Mr Woodhouse says children have been placed in a dangerous situation as a result of the council’s attempt to save a relatively small amount of money.

He said: “We are in a position where we don’t have anyone out there and the road is just as dangerous as it has been. It still worries me.”

The school does not have funds to pay for a warden itself.

Mr Woodhouse said: “As a school, there is no chance of us trying to fund it, we are already in a really difficult budget position, as a lot of schools are.

“We have said if we can find some money from somewhere we can continue it until the point that the council have agreed to do their second survey.

“They have basically said they will do another count in May, but ‘if you want one in the meantime you will have to fund it yourselves.’

“They would do the training for free, we would have to pay the salary.

“I have written to the parish council and a local charity to see if they are willing to help us. We have asked for £2,000.”

East Riding Council has said it has to follow national guidelines on the appointment of crossing wardens.

Mr Woodhouse said: “One of the guidelines is they have to do a survey while the leaving lollipop person is in post.

“They had to do that in December, when there are dark nights and a lot of parents drive their children to and from school, so it was not an optimal time to do it.

“I am pleased the council has listened and it is willing to do another survey.”

Meanwhile, Mr Woodhouse would be grateful if anyone is able to support the school’s funding plea.

He said: “If anyone wants to help us with it, that would be wonderful.

“It really is a busy road. The children come to me and say ‘I am struggling to know when to cross, there is not a gap.’

“The gap used to be created by the lollipop warden.”

A spokesman for East Riding Council said a public meeting held last week on the issue was “very constructive” and officers listened to the issues raised by the school and parents.

The spokesman said: “The council, the school and the parish council are now working together on a way forward.

“We have agreed to carry out a further survey once an interim school crossing patrol officer has been recruited.

“As the current school crossing patrol site does not meet the national criteria for a funded post, the school and parish council are investigating alternative funding options for the interim position.”