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ROAD SAFETY &
CYCLE TRAINING |
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Ø I am qualified to National Standards and have my Bikeability accreditation having been checked by an independent body at the behest of the Cycle Training Standards Board. National Standards and Bikeability was set up by Cycling England, RoSPA, CTC, LAROSA and the DfT etc., I was also one of just a handful of NSIs (and the only independent instructor) in the country that have been approached by Cycling England and the CTC to pilot Bikeability during the ‘gearing up’ period until it was rolled out nationally in the spring of 2007. Additionally I'm a qualified First Aider (at Work). I am now an Assistant Instructor Trainer under Cycle Experience auspices, with a view to becoming a Lead Instructor in the not too distant future. Meanwhile I am able to work with trainee Assistant Instructors (when the course is ratified by the CTSB) and provisionally accredited National Standard Instructors. More recently I also attended a Sports Coach UK 'Safeguarding and Protecting Children' seminar and the 'Disabled Equality' seminar run in conjunction with the NSPCC.
What about
the Criminal Records Bureau checks., who does those and how
regularly have they been done? Is your scheme Bikeability accredited and what does that mean? Ø Yes it is, I received my formal accreditation in April 2007, at which time I was also mentored by a consultant for both Cycling England and the Cycle Training Standards Board who had commissioned the report to ensure that I am delivering the courses correctly and to standard. The formal accreditation means that the respective policies required by law and paperwork is scrutinised, to ensure that they are in order and appropriate for what we are aiming to achieve. Anyone can request to see my Health & Safety and Child Protection Policies at any time, in fact, you’re welcome to do so. The CTSB have ratified the report following a second visit from the independent consultants acting on behalf of Cycling England, the CTSB and the DfT etc which happened in September 2007. It's somewhere between a quality control inspection and practical teaching exam with regard to teaching practices, to ensure I'm doing what I claim to do 'on the tin' type thing and the objectives are being achieved. I must still review my policies on an annual basis and submit to further checks if required to do so which is fair enough. Who exactly can train, are we just talking children? Ø Not at all, these days being a cycling instructor is not all about just teaching children, it's about anyone wanting to learn, hone their bike skills or go from off roading to on road. In fact I even have a colleague in Dorset who had some racing cyclists ask him for help., after all in certain race situations, roads are closed off and speed is the key word, neither of which are particularly conducive to cycling under normal circumstances in terms of bike control skills! (Such as being able to stay upright and in control when having to slow down somewhat, negotiating traffic and roads etc) ........ Also there is a new EU initiative that would again be relevant to what we are all looking to achieve called LifeCycle, which was announced Feb 6th 2009 by the CTC. Are the services you will be offering in addition, controlled to the same high standards?
So if my child needs a little extra help then what? Ø We can run courses adapted to your child's needs and that of their friends too., cycling is an activity that everyone can enjoy if approached from the right angle. I have gone back to college part time to do a Sports Coaching degree, mainly because I get quite a few requests from parents to help children with Aspergers, Dyspraxia and/or ADHD as well so want to learn as much as I can about different ways of working with anyone who requests a little help. Joanne Lord is going a similar route but from the counselling angle, putting her own personal experience to good use and putting a positive spin on it. From there once we are qualified in that respect, you will have to make your own minds up but everything will again be quality controlled by the CTSB, my being an accredited NSI and Bikeability accredited. Is there anything available for the students at the special needs schools in county at all? Ø A scheme has just been piloted in London and the directive released to current instructors. In the fullness of time, all instructors who wish to, will be able to do further training and participate in a module that the CTC and Cycling Projects are working on for students who need that little extra support. Meanwhile I have been working with Doubletrees and adapted the course as best I could, also the Bikeability certificates are now worded as 'having participated in' rather than 'has passed' as it is now accepted that not all students will meet the required standard to be able to ride continuously consistently and competently on road. That however, would be reflected in the report that goes with the certificate. What about older people or those who have more restrictive problems such as being deaf or blind? Ø Agreed, so why stop there? We're not though, we are also hoping to set up a 'Wheels for All' programme down here which will mean no-one is excluded, not even the deaf or the blind but again, one has to have further training to become a ride leader and the minimum qualification is Nat. Standard Instructor which is why I am encouraging the respective schools to have at least one member of staff or someone on the board of Governors to train up as an instructor. Although I've been doing this for a few years now, personally I still believe that those who are involved with the children of ALL abilities long term, will make the better ride leaders as they know the children's individual needs so much better than someone like myself, equally that those of us who are qualified but only used to dealing with the more able bodied, could learn a lot from them and be able to support them better for it. Perhaps somewhere centrally to the county, perhaps over Plymouth way but at the very least, the ball is rolling so watch this space. What about funding, Cornwall isn’t a rich county and this isn’t a free service?
Ø
Cycling England has rolled
out its pilot project with the Youth Sport Trust
(who manage the partnership network) so that Partnership Development
Managers are given grants to distribute in their School Sports
Partnerships. They in turn, are be free to commission freelance
trainers themselves or work with the local authority or both. We
had it in place for the academic year
2007-2008 and have a second grant for the current academic year 2008
- 2009. Currently I am working with both Cycling England and
the PDMs covering both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and we have £80k coming into the county to
train 2000 Year 5 & 6 children before the end of the summer term 2009. How do I know my child is safe? Ø I think the best answer to that is if you care to go to my ‘Feedback’ section, then you can see what parents who know me think. Before we go out I will always have done risk assessments on sites I intend using and no-one is allowed to go out on the roads on a bike that is anything less than legally roadworthy. The first day is always playground based for this reason and so I can assess their bike and cycling skills. You however, can also contribute, not only by ensuring their bike is both the right size and safe but also by providing them with a correctly fitted helmet too. What happens if there is a medical emergency? Ø We accept no responsibility if we have not been told of anything that might affect you/your child. If either you or your child suffers with any disorder that might need to be treated, we need to know about it especially if we are talking diabetes, anaphylactic shock, angina or asthma and might require either self medication or in a dire emergency when the paramedics wouldn't necessarily get there quickly enough, your written authorisation to use whatever medication you/they would use in such a situation. What happens if the weather is bad in winter or at any other time come to that? Ø Unless we are talking prolonged and heavy rains (especially if there is a risk of flooding or areas of standing water that will affect those training), high winds, snow, ice, thick fog or a combination of any of the above, then the sessions will go ahead. At all times I would ask that you please ensure your child is appropriately dressed with a change of clothes if it is inclement. If you go to my ‘Links’ page, you will find a link to the BBC Weather page and if you put your postcode or town in, you will be able to get a 24 hour forecast and duly prepare accordingly. There will be rare occasions when it will either be postponed or will run classroom based general theory sessions [I need to have access to run PowerPoint to go through road positions] if there are extremes that make outdoor training unsafe. What happens if it is a sweltering day in spring or summer?
Ø
Especially at
this time of year, due
to high temperatures, you need to think about things like
sunscreen, a drink to prevent dehydration and a hat to protect your child from sunstroke
and perhaps sunglasses too (especially if they are prone to hay
fever or similar) and of course, a sweater to put on if the
sun goes in. More so even although in this day and age, the
seasons are doing some very peculiar things so are not so
predictable. Also please be sure that they always carry any
medication that they self medicate using and in an emergency, that
we have written authority to administer it, especially for those who are
unfortunate enough to suffer asthma attacks or react to wasp/bee
stings and go into anaphylactic shock as time would not be on our
side in that kind of a situation! Again check the weather so you can duly prepare
accordingly.
Will I get a report and/or a certificate? Ø At the end of the course yes. I will be consistently assessing the trainees rather than ask them to do a test at the end of the course. The report will highlight their strong points but also advise you of areas where they may still require your support and guidance. PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER, completion of the course is not licence for them to go out on the roads on their own. The ultimate decision whether they are allowed to do so after the course, is yours as their parents. The certificate will only confirm completion of the course (the wording due to the fact not everyone is the same, is "has PARTICIPATED in", NOT 'has passed') but if they fall short of the standard it will be reflected in the report, so you are under no illusions. What happens if my child falls short of the required standard? Ø That very much depends on the reason – if it is because they preferred to mess around then I accept no responsibility but if there is a genuine reason such as a disability or a disruption no-one had any control over such as a family bereavement, then of course I will work with you to do what we can so that they can gain their certificate. If it is due to no fault of their own, I will offer ONE extra 1:1 session for an hour at no extra cost which in most cases, would resolve the situation however if we need to carry on after than, then you would need to formally engage me to continue. For example I have a young lady aged just 7, who took her stabilisers off on day one but wasn't quite signalling etc. by the end of the course. Two weeks later after cycling at every opportunity she got, she is now capable of doing what is required to gain her certificate however she did get a certificate of 'encouragement' at the end of the course so that she wasn't left out when everyone else got theirs. What is the coursework they will get ? Ø Amongst other publications, they will get a copy the junior Highway Code and various other booklets that are relevant. Their assignments will be based on what they have learnt during the various sessions. I have no problem if you help them and discuss it, talking things through with them especially if they do have learning difficulties such as dyslexia. It is designed to reinforce what I have taught them and give them something to refer back to after I have left. They will also be given DfT activity books, again to reinforce what they are learning but in a more relaxed and fun environment. Are you covered if there is an accident?
Ø
Yes, I am
fully insured through the CTC., I have Public Liability Insurance
which also covers me as an instructor. If you go to the CTC
website, you can What would happen if an incident occurred where the training is being conducted? Ø That very much depends on what the nature of the incident .. Obviously the safety and well being of the trainees always takes priority. I have a First Aid kit and Accident/Incident Report book, to comply with HSE directions should any of them be involved. Calling the emergency services would also be a priority although hopefully it would be more a routine thing than because we needed their assistance. It is why I always insist on at least one other adult being present, preferably two whenever possible. If whatever it is causes an obstruction that would put the children in danger in any way, then we would change simply change location. What would happen if a child had an accident whilst training? Ø The first thing would be to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Should they be a casualty they would be treated according to the type of injury sustained and the emergency services called if required. It may simply be a graze but I don’t take chances. If a trainee has a head injury however slight, they will go to hospital and if you refused, I would ask you to sign a waiver in case there are any subsequent repercussions. Either way I always have a second adult with me and my mobile phone. Where does training take place? Ø Always somewhere local to the client’s home wherever possible, where they would normally cycle themselves and at level 3 when route planning comes into the equation, perhaps undertaking a journey they would make, to school or work for example. When Steve runs MTB courses, they too will be done where he has previously done risk assessments and possibly on one of the many trails we are lucky to have here in Cornwall. depending on where you're at both geographically and in terms your ability. How does one decide what level of training is appropriate? Ø That depends on what the client tells me, their previous experience, what they want to achieve etc. It may be a case of starting at the beginning [L1] and working right through, or starting with basic on road training [L2] for a child who has ridden for while and has good bike control skills or if someone a little older, a teenager or mother of young children for example who has ridden all their lives but isn’t confident riding on multi lane roads with roundabouts and traffic lights, then it is just a matter of doing the advanced cycling level [L3]. Are there any age limits? Ø My youngest client is 5 and my oldest is 78 so no, not really. It comes down to ability more than age and I only tend to teach those who have managed to leave their stabilisers behind although there is always the odd exception to any rule! Cycling is good for your health and is non weight bearing too. So long as it is what you want to do, age is pretty well immaterial and it is almost certainly beneficial however I do ask my older clients to please complete a quick Health Check Questionnaire. I would add however, that anyone doing Level 3 training, generally would be 11 or older but again, there are always exception to the rule! What is this ‘BikeAbility’ that you refer to? Ø Bikeability is the new brand name for National Standards replacing the rather outdated Cycling Proficiency and bringing cycle training into the 21st century. It is part of the government programme to reach out to all Y6 children in the next few years, hence the injection of cash in the summer of 2006 of £15m – Bikeability has its own website at www.bikeability.org.uk and you can register there for any updates. I’ve never ridden a bike before, can you help me? Ø Yes of course., I’ve helped a 53 year old whose partner has ridden from John O’Groats to Lands End the summer of 2005 and gave them a bike as a Christmas pressie together with a few lessons as they’d never even sat on a bike previously. Within 4 hours she had gone from scooting along the first time out to get the feel of it to being able to pedal on her own, steering the bike and going through cones, doing an emergency stop and signalling. Her friend however, was pedalling on her own totally unsupported within half an hour and amazingly after just 2 hours instruction, rode all the way from Wadebridge to Padstow and back. Another 60 year young grandmother was also going solo within an hour and having borrowed one of my bikes for the first session, stopped off and bought her own on the way home and went out cycling with her husband the following morning. On the other hand, I took the stabilisers of a child's bike one day and it was 3 days later that they finally had the courage to cycle completely on their own without anyone running beside or behind them and managed a greater distance (on average 100m give or take) when I ran in front of them so they focused on me than when I didn't but in all cases, once they knew they could do it, there was no stopping any of them .... How long will it take me to learn from scratch? Ø Everyone is different as the previous response illustrates, so we go at your own pace as it is important that you are comfortable and enjoy doing it., when you get tired or feel overloaded it is important you say rather than suffer in silence because you’ve engaged my services so feel you have to see it through! It also depends on things like how athletic you are in terms of your balance or why you’ve just decided to learn now., is there something in your past that stopped you for example and if you have an inbred fear, what is the cause so that we can you past it. One lady who almost talked herself out of it before we even got to the training ground, was away within 15 - 20 minutes and if I hadn't had my bike handy, I'd have been left behind. Is there a test that I need to pass? Ø No, there is no formal test but a continual assessment is undertaken by the instructor who is qualified to do this and the decision to award the certificate or continue with training and the length of time that needs to happen, on will be based on those assessment results. Do I need to wear a helmet? Ø Rule of thumb tends to be for a child yes because they are more likely to fall off their bike by loosing their balance [please read my ‘Terms and Conditions’ on the subject which you need to sign together with the consent form for your child] but older clients do have the choice. If however you choose not to wear a helmet and have an accident resulting in an injury that would have been less severe if you had, the medical questionnaire indemnifies me against such an incident as your signing it confirms your participating in the programme at your own risk. I've heard rumours of a cycling academy - what is that about?
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